Saturday: 06-22-2030: I can feel myself walking through a forest more dense than any I have ever seen before. The trees are far taller and there are structures shaped like inverted acorns built into the high canopy of the woods. In them are windows and doors through which I can see winged humanoid shapes moving about inside them and flying between the branches of the trees. The wings are like those of birds but are twice as long outstretched as the figures are tall. Closing and opening my eyes, my perspective then shifts, and I see the planet from low orbit, covered in more forests than the Earth has roads. I slow blink and then I see two bright lights: one emerald green and the other medium silver. “They are here. They are here. Find them here, Ælura Fulmena. Wood and Rock are waiting.” I am pulled back to the beautiful planet and I wake up with a start. “What’s wrong, kiddo?” “Nothing, Mom. Just a strange dream.” “About a planet covered in trees and two primordial stones?” “Yeah. It was inhabited by winged humanoids living in the forest canopy. Someone said: They are here. They are here. Find them here, Ælura Fulmena. Wood and Rock are waiting. What are those, the primordial stones?” “Each tribe of immortals has its own set of heirlooms. I believe these belong to the Earth Tribe. I imagine they were sent out across space during the Doom to prevent the Darkness and her servants from finding them. By whom, no one knows. The Stars, perhaps? Only that others have searched for them on Earth a few times since then but came up empty-handed. Growing up, we were taught that for a long time, the stones were believed to be lost to us, that no person, mortal or immortal would ever find them again before Alÿran-Jakinduria’s azure heart was restored to her.” “I believe we’re on the cusp of something remarkable. A new era is beginning, full of wonders and terrors in equal measure.” The night sky is illuminated by the pink nebula and the glow of the trees. It seems as though the Queen is releasing the last of her seeds for this spawn cycle. It’s almost over. Not for another 25,000,000 years will anyone, tree spirit or human, mortal, or immortal, ever see this kind of event again. A single tiny seed settles on the ground next to where we are laying. I brush my fingers over its fluffy little balloon, one of the softest things I’ve ever felt in my life. The little crystal glows softly as it begins rooting itself into the sandy soil. I whisper to the baby tree. “Hello, little seedling. Welcome to this peaceful world, where trees sing and keep stories from the birth of Creation. You will live for as long as matter is stable, far longer than most great peoples, to see the day that the Goddess Alÿran-Jakinduria is reunited with her azure heart, Percec-Ikasi is forgiven for his folly of old, and the wicked King of the Others will be punished. And all will be made right again by the Divine. One day you shall bear witness to the final fall of evil, child.” Mom and Dad go back to sleep and I wrap myself in my blanket and follow suit.
TJ is again working in the mines with the woman from Vädi, and though he is working quickly, he is also beginning to tire, having worked all day previously. “Boy. You should try to leave this place and flee towards the light on the horizon. If you can make it to the sunlit side, the shadows will not follow you there.” “When?” “Now.” “What?” “Now!” The woman hurls her pickaxe high up until it strikes a stalactite formation, causing it to fall down on the heads of the mine overseers. “Go!” Honoring what is likely the woman’s life sacrifice, TJ uses the commotion to try to escape the collapsing cavern and come up to the surface, as do many others. He emerges on the surface through a hole in the flank of a mountain where looking up, he sees a massive, black spacecraft coming in for a landing in a depression in the land surrounded by many mountains. At least, the craft looked black due to it being silhouetted against the dim red-gray sky. He begins running down the mountainside, trying to disappear into the tree line. “I hope she doesn’t die. I don’t even know her name.” After several minutes of running down the slope, TJ makes it into the trees and stops to throw up for having run so hard and fast. For many days, TJ has tried to use his powers, any of them, but something seems to drain his energy. After he is finished throwing up his empty stomach, he lays down behind a twisted tree to catch his breath and perhaps, just maybe, get some sleep.
Up in the highest tower, Billy is being given delicious food by the Queen, who regales him with her victories all over the Galaxy, contrived they likely are. “What was that all about yesterday? That glitch?” Her form becomes more alert, like she has been asked an alarming question. “Glitch? We did not glitch. The Queen does not glitch.” “But the torches did, Your Majesty.” He sees her countenance change. “Where is He Who Lies Beneath, little Crawford?” “What do you mean, Your Majesty? How would I be able to find it?” “It holds the power to either save me from my torment or doom me for all eternity.” “What?” “We need Our Champion badly.” Then, just like the day prior, the Queen experiences another ‘glitch’, violently seesawing between cordial and hostile. “Silence!” “I didn’t say anything, Your Majesty.” “Not you, mortal!” She then flies off out the window, leaving Billy with a sense of bewilderment. “Makes you wonder where the Royal We came from.”
TJ wakes up from his short rest and stretches his body, his tail sticking up straight. “I’m so hungry. Bet I can’t eat anything in this forest that won’t likely make me sick to my stomach. Maybe the food is better on this planet where the sun shines.” He stands up, looking for the brightest and least gray part of the sky, preparing to heed the Vädish woman’s words to make for the sunlit side. Just as he finds the right direction, he is caught by an orc-like creature. “Thought you’d be getting away from us, didn’t you, you sneaky little rat! Come back to the mine, or your tall friend will be served to the Queen’s brood! They’re always hungry for sweeter meats than this planet can provide!” Reluctantly, TJ goes with the hobgoblin but warns him: “If any of them die, my sister will destroy this place and all of you with it!”
I feel myself walking across crusty yellow minerals. The air is pungent and a great mountain erupts in the distance, releasing tongues of blue flame. “They are here. They are here. Find them here, Ælura Fulmena. Day and Fire are waiting.” The voice from earlier speaks, and two lights: bright yellow and fiery red fill my field of view. The next world I see is water everywhere, and no landmass in sight. I then see a pale light and a blue light, and I see a world looking as though in the midst of an ice age. “They are here. They are here. Find them here, Ælura Fulmena. Ice and Water are waiting.” I then see a vast desert and a pale light and a deep violet light shine in the distance. “They are here. They are here. Find them here, Ælura Fulmena. Night and Air are waiting.” I am again pulled back to my body. The pink sun is up and Mom and Dad are already awake. “Good morning, sweetheart. Did you see anything else?” “Yeah. A fire planet, a global ocean, an ice world, and a desert. The voice also spoke of six other elemental stones, likely of the Fire, Water, and Air Tribes. I don’t know why I’m seeing them. Are we supposed to go to these places on the way to find TJ and Billy?” “I think so.” “There was not just the Star of Elysium that all Immortals held and still hold sacred. The eight clans of Immortals each held sacred an elemental stone, created by one of the old gods, believed to allow them to hear the words of the old gods. The Stone of Fire is a large tetrahedral ruby that has power over heat and fire. It is the special charge of the head of the Fire tribe. It was said to have been created by Erre-Su Erregina-Ama. The Stone of Day is a large tetrahedral sunstone that has power over light and activity. It is the special charge of the head of the Day tribe. It was said to have been created by Izarra-Hautsa Errementari-Erregina. The Jewel of Water is a large dodecahedral sapphire that has power over water and tides. It is the special charge of the head of the Water tribe. The Jewel of Ice is a large dodecahedral snowflake that has power over ice and the cold. It is the special charge of the head of the Ice tribe. Both were said to also have been created by Itsaso-Ura Jaun-Aita. The Jewel of Seed is a large cubic emerald that has power over life and order. It is the special charge of the head of the Wood tribe. It was said to have been created by Percec-Ikasi Dena-Aita. The Jewel of Earth is a large cubic granite that has power over rocks and minerals. It is the special charge of the head of the Rock tribe. It was said to have been created by Sendoa-Lurreko Jaun-Aita. The Jewel of Air is a large octahedral clear quartz that has power over wind and air. It is the special charge of the head of the Air tribe. It was said to have been created by Airëa-Airë Erregina-Ama. The Jewel of Night is a large octahedral moonstone that has power over sleep and dreams. It is the special charge of the head of the Night tribe. It was said to have been created by Alÿran-Jakinduria Dena-Ama. If the ancient Immortal Empire looked beautiful, then the paradise realm of the Deathless within the Star of Elysium looks absolutely stunning. There, rivers and streams are clean and sparkling. Trees and plants are lush and thriving. Flowers are otherworldly and the paths are paved with gold and silver. The breezes are full of music that can create harmony in one’s heart. Jewels sit at the bottom of ponds, lakes, and streams and they harmonize with the breezes. Buildings there blend in with the nature of the realm. In the heart of Elysium lies a great Palace, the home of all the past rulers of the Immortal Empire where the last Empress dwells now, along with nearly all her kin. The pocket dimension inside the Jewel of Elysium, like the TARDIS, is virtually infinite in volume, thus allowing many trillions of Transcendent Immortals to live there. The stones are all bound to the Star, and all draw their power from it.” “So, that’s what we’re doing next?”
“Well, those eggs and bacon were pretty good.” “I second that, brother.” “Want to go for a walk?” “Sure.” The boys go into the woods with their dog. “I know they won’t say his name, but I just know they’re talking about Uncle Nameless. What did he do to be banished from the family and his name and face be silenced?” “Only that there was an incident witnessed by Dad and Grandma involving dark magic. You know they don’t like it when we talk about him. It hurts them too much, Kyle. Besides, Grandma made sure he couldn’t touch us. I remember his face only vaguely because I was only a toddler and you were only a baby. He looked somewhat like a slightly younger version of Dad, but very pale, as though even moonlight would burn his skin, like a vampire. I didn’t and still don’t quite understand why, but I felt creeped out by him and I think when Grandma picked up on that, she sensed his true nature and warned him off from us. It was while Grandpa was still alive, just before the stroke that killed him, before they caught Uncle Nameless doing the dark magic.” Then, Red Baron perks up and becomes very alert. The bushes rustle and a mischievous giggling, like that of children, fills the forest. “Who is that? Is it the bad spirits?” “Let’s go home, then.” The brothers and their dog turn back towards the house and from running, they find themselves in the hidden temple. “I think it’s safe here.” “Is this the old temple that Grandma talks about?” “I think so. They say it’s pretty old, older than human history. Ours is not the first iteration of human civilization to arise on Earth.” “But, if humans evolved earlier than what is currently thought, wouldn’t there be evidence of that in the fossil record for the last few million years? There’s only evidence going back about 200,000 years. If said civilization was powerful enough to build a place like this, they wouldn’t just vanish without a trace, or a fight.” “Of course, they wouldn’t, unless magic was involved, maybe. Dark and powerful.” The boys find one of Lyral’s books that she left there. “Can you read that?” “If Grandma could read this, then maybe we could, too.” They flip through the pages until they find a passage relating to the latter days of the Immortal Empire.
“A Curse of Oblivion, whose words are too dark and terrible to be worthy of remembrance or legacy, was spoken against the last Empress of our Immortal Nation, by the one we remember only as the Queen of Shadows, She Who Goes Bump in the Night, the heraldress of the primordial Horror, the servant of the Empty One, the Inanis. She invoked beings known to us by the Stars only as the Corrupted Others, and a nameless fear stalked our people for the following 1,000 years until the Doom wiped all trace of our Nation and our traditions from the Physical world.”
Silo and Kyle were met with a sense of dread at the part that mentions the Corrupted Others. “What are the Corrupted Others?” “It’s best not to ask too many questions about them, boys.” The boys are startled by the sudden appearance of Lyral behind them. “I’ve been wondering where I left that book. Are any of you into Lovecraft?” “Well, I have a Cthulhu plushie at home.” “Then, whatever questions you have about the Others should be answered there.” “Who, or what, is the Inanis? It says that the Queen of Shadows was a servant of this being.” “Inanis is not the true name of the Horror, just what the old Immortals called her. Nobody knows her true name, at least nobody who’s made of flesh and blood, mortal or immortal. It’s better that way. How was your walk?” “Great, until we started hearing children giggling at us, at which point we ran here.” The boys follow Lyral home for lunch.
With the repairs largely finished, but with the rest of the area being unsafe, the Crawfords are still staying in the James house. Ida is going through some of Lyral’s old books, trying to find how to repel the shadows to make her home safe again.
“It was found that to destroy a Shadow Demon, one must pierce and shatter its dark crystal heart, and it will dissolve into smoke and be vanquished. One must use a long pointed or bladed weapon blessed with spells of courage and assurance and steeped in the pure and holy tears of the Stars, wept by the children of Izarra-Hautsa after the fading of the old gods.”
With this in mind, she and Lyral go to the hidden temple with a dozen knives and chisels to bless them. “How many of these demons have you faced before now?” “Other than their Queen nearly a thousand years ago, none.” “So, you’ve never killed one, I take it?” “Nope.” “Well, it’s never too late for a new first, whether you have one zero on your age or three.”
Seeing that their grandmother brought her totem book of old knowledge with her, Silo and Kyle take a peek, finding spells they never heard of before. Then, they find a whole chapter of pages just cut out of the book, as if what written upon them was too dangerous to be viewed lest the reader be driven to unfathomable darkness. “Why’d Grandma rip out this whole chapter? It just skips from 12 to 14.” “Maybe something happened after someone used magic to do something really bad and then she ripped out the pages to protect whoever reads the book thereafter.” “You think it had something to do with the Corrupted Others, whatever they are?” “Lyral did say they were a cognito-hazard and the passage in her book about the curse mentions the Corrupted Others being invoked by the one who cursed humanity. Maybe they have some sort of destructive, apocalyptic abilities that can be triggered by the mere mention of their names, especially in the name of the Inanis, whatever that is.”
Ida and Lyral come back with the weapons they’ve blessed. “Each of you must take at least one. They’ve been blessed with spells against these creatures. If one finds you, you are to stab them in the heart. Do that and they’ll be destroyed.” How will it destroy them?” “They’re blessed with star-tears and spells against the demons. It says to stab them in the heart.” “Who came up with it?” “It must have been developed in the years after the Doom by those who witnessed the Second Horror.”
“On a handful of occasions in the intervening 200,000 years, the Mother of Shadows would awaken, and demons would come from the Stronghold of Great Darkness, appearing in our world, to spread fear and horror among our Mortal brethren. This method of vanquishing them was developed by those who swore the Oath of the Lady Steward after returning to Earth.”
The Queen, now able to leave her rooted throne, emerges to enjoy the sunset. “I don’t know whether your kind will still be around next time I spawn, but I hope something will. You and your family are the first outsiders to witness it since the sand people disappeared.” “Who were they? Were they like us, Your Majesty?” “Yes, actually. Their greatest city lies across the Lake of Light, abandoned and in ruin but still recognizable as a city.” “Where is the Lake of Light, Your Majesty?” “Just a slight walk to the south of here. I will guide you three there myself. There are some items there that can help you with the rest of your mission. I’ve often thought of going after them myself, but the thought of what must have happened to the sand people millions of years ago frightens me more than almost anything else.” “Do you know what happened to them, Your Majesty?” “I couldn’t say. Some of us think they went extinct; others think they fled our world for parts unknown. One day we just stopped hearing from them. Those who went into the remains of their city weren’t quite the same after they returned and so I declared the area off limits.” Mom and Dad come over to the Queen and I. “There is something that lies within the heart of the capital of the sand people across the Lake. Made of gold but holding something far more precious. Come.” Ænahïta walks south in the direction of the Lake of Light and we follow her, the pink light of the sun and of the rings reflecting off her crystalline body, making her glow with a kindling warmth. Reaching the ethereal Lake of Light, glowing with soft silver-white light. “Here I leave you, Immortals of the Land of Carbon. I hope you find the Golden Book and the Figures of the Gods soon. It contains the greatest store of knowledge and power in the Universe. I fear dark times are ahead for your tiny part of it and his-its knowledge can help you.” “Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, but aren’t you curious to see it for yourself?” “I wish that I could have the courage to go in there, but there may still be remnants of whatever ancient Horrors are responsible for the vanishing of the sand people. I went once just outside the gates of the city after it happened, and I will bring no report of what I saw to darken your thoughts. Forgive Our hesitation, but Our place is with Our children. You shall be safe as long as you concentrate on finding the book. Afterwards, do not linger in that place. Farewell.” The Queen stands there at the water’s edge, with some of the spirits there beside her. Mom freezes some of the water into a large solid raft of ice for the three of us, which we board. “Farewell, Your Majesty. It was bliss to be welcomed into your Dominion.” The sun sets and the water emits bursts of light as our raft disturbs it. “Who wants to row us first?” “I will.” Mom sits up and facing the Forest, she begins pushing us south. Ænahïta and her children watch us and then she walks back to her rooted body, trying to forget the dread that filled her when she first looked upon the abandoned capital of the sand people.
Previous Episode: Fire and Ice.
Next Episode: The Golden Book.
