Chapter Forty-nine
The Sanctuary of the Platinum Dragon
As soon as we were through the gate out of the district, I spoke to our group. "With everything that happened yesterday, I just need some time for myself today. I'll be back at the tower probably in a couple of hours. I'm going to go do something. I do want to fight a dragon in the training room though!"
I had some deep questions on my mind, things I'd never wondered about or considered before. Not only that, but I needed some direction on what I needed to do in order to fulfill what Bahamut wanted me to do as his champion. The meeting had renewed my determination to fulfill my destiny.
I still had some hesitation, but I reminded myself that everything I'd heard about Bahamut was good, and were things I cared about. Really, the only thing I had against him was the fact that he was a dragon. I reminded myself that I'd learned that dragons had helped create the Eternity Tree. I hoped Bahamut would forgive me for my hesitation, and even my former disdain of him.
I made my way to the temple of the Platinum Dragon. I was becoming very familiar with how to get there. There were not many people there, no services seemed to be happening that day. I asked one of the priests for Brother Maynard. He knew a little of my background and I'd talked to him before. I knew I felt safe with him.
He came out after a few minutes. "Yes? Welcome back. What may I help you with?"
"I've had some experiences recently, and it's created some questions for me. The first one that comes to mind is, what happens to a person after they die?"
"Ah, yes. There are many things that may happen when we die, and that all depends on your faith, and your deity or demigod. The higher planes, beyond the divine gate, are home to many different entities, including our beloved Platinum Dragon, Bahamut.
"Those who are faithful will be ushered by the Raven Queen to the divine gate to where their soul will be delivered to the plane that most closely aligns with their heart and soul. The body is a mere vessel. That is what we know, that is what we have been given. There are very few that are able to venture beyond the divine gate to find more answers. Does that help, my child?"
"Um, a little bit." It didn't give me much comfort concerning Sindus, whom I knew had a good heart, or he would not have risked his life as he had repeatedly done for us, but also had a criminal history. "Would they want to come back after they have passed on?"
"The will of the soul is unique. If it is the will of the gods, and they want to come back, then it can be made so. The choices we make in this life, and the faith we have determine where beyond the divine gate that we go. To the hills of Mount Celestia, or to the deepest levels of the nine hells.
"It all depends on them. Their own will, if they had unfinished business, if they just were not ready, if the gods were not ready for them, then it can be so. The magics in this world are far powerful."
If this was the case, I'd do what I could to help bring Sindus back. It sounded like ultimately it was up to he and the gods if he came back or not, but I wasn't going to prevent it from happening by doing nothing. It was because of me that he was dead, and I'd do whatever was in my power to reverse it, even if it took a while.
Having some answers there, I turned to the other matter pressing on my mind. "On a bit of a different vein, what would be required to become a cleric?"
Brother Maynard smiled. "Ah, the cleric's life. There are many paths to becoming a cleric. The will of the Platinum Dragon is not known to us in a whole. We do not see the grand vision of things. But on occasion, he does choose those he deems worthy to carry his boon, his magics, if you will, and he calls them to tasks that are needed. The chosen are not always followers, but in time most that follow that path come to revere and respect him, sometimes coming permanently into his service."
He motioned to the building around us. "Those who wish to become a cleric here usually undergo much study and prayer." He paused. "From our previous conversations, you seem to have more of an interest than you used to. May I ask why?"
I looked to the ground. My voice was barely audible. I didn't know if he would believe my answer, it seemed a bit presumptuous. "I believe that Bahamut has called me to be one of his champions."
"Indeed. Well, why do you believe he has called you as a champion of his?" He didn't sound like he disbelieved me, just that he was looking for clarity so he could best help.
"Um, a while ago— actually, before the last time I talked to you he appeared to me in a vision."
"You have seen him!"
"I have. And at the time I was a bit freaked out."
"Understandably so." His voice was reassuring, and helped me continue relating my story.
"And at that time he, I thought, told me to follow his champion. But since then, after the champion I thought I was supposed to follow, I was no longer able to follow him, I was discussing with one of my associates who it could be that I was supposed to follow, and he spoke to my mind again, but said the words a little differently to 'follow, my champion.'"
"If what you say is true, and he truly has appeared to you, and you are desiring to follow him, and become in his service, and gain his boon, the one thing you may try is to begin the process. One would want to spend time here in the Platinum Sanctuary."
He gestured to a door at the back of the temple that I hadn't noticed before. It was behind the altar area, and I'd probably thought it a simple service door. He continued, "a private area, where his influence is highest. And in time, through meditation and prayer, you may receive an additional vision or sign from him. And if the sign be true, he will grant his power to you.
"And once that power is given it can be grown and cultivated, and you can begin to be trained in the magics of the world. These things can aid you in his need of you, and of your need in life. It can be a short period of time, some never receive the boon. But if what you say is true and he has already appeared to you once, it should not be a long process. His will obviously has need of you."
I bowed my head and looked to my right, then back to him. There was one thing that I was worried could ruin it all. "Is there hope for someone who has despised dragons for decades?"
He looked at me for a moment, his face ever remaining kind. "Hmm, you speak of yourself, yes?"
I looked down in shame and nodded. I was on the verge of tears. When he spoke again his voice was filled with compassion. "Do not be afraid. Fear is the root of the tree of anger and hatred, which can only lead to suffering. There are those dragons in this world which are a plague to the races of this world. However, there are those which share the benevolent virtues of the Platinum Dragon. Do not fear. Be wary, but do not fear. Though your experience in your life may have been tainted, do not let that one drop of blood in the puddle become the solid color."
He paused a moment as his words sunk in. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"If I can, and now is a good time, I would like to try spending some time in the Sanctuary. I have a bit of time now before I need to return to my friends."
"If that is the case, I will see if it is available for you. You seem to have a good heart, and one who has seen much." He left me for a moment, and I looked at the huge statue of the Platinum Dragon in the room. There was no going back now. I was nervous, but felt this was the right thing to do.
He soon came back and informed me the Sanctuary was available. He brought me to the door, but before he could open it, I asked him one last question. "How does one pray? I've never done it before. I deeply understand meditation, but not prayer."
He smiled at me with that same patient, kind smile. "Dear child, you need but open your mind to the possibilities of the universe. When your mind is open and willing, he will manifest himself to you. The manner in which he does may vary from person to person."
He opened the door and motioned for me to enter. "Once he makes his presence known, then you may ask your question."
I took a deep breath and entered the room. Before closing the door, he said, "feel free to position yourself in any way you find comfortable."
The room was bigger than I had thought it would be. The ceiling was about three storeys high, and the room itself was about as big as a good-sized sitting room.
There were benches on the sides, but also plenty of open space in the middle of the room. On the wall across from the door, there was a huge, majestic, stained glass window of Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon.
I stood for a moment in amazement. It seemed so lifelike, and even though the morning sun was no longer shining on it, still had a good amount of light coming through.
I finally sat in a meditative position—legs crossed and my hands on my knees—in the middle of the room, facing the window. I started meditating almost immediately. How were we to save the Tree? How were we going to get there? What did we need to do to accomplish what we were supposed to do?
I looked at the window, it almost seemed a distraction to me. Would I ever allow myself to really trust a dragon, even a good-natured one? I'd judged dragons as a whole so terribly.
I hadn't been meditating long when I felt like I was floating in the air. I opened my eyes and found myself firmly on the ground, but I still felt that floating sensation.
My eyes were flickering open and closed as I meditated. I trained them on the window to help me focus. The eyes of the Dragon were painted to look to the side, away from me. I just wanted some answers to help me do what this Dragon desired of me.
My eyes fluttered open again, but this time they were met by the eyes in the window. My heart skipped a beat and I felt a pit in my stomach. The Platinum Dragon was staring right at me.
I stared back, I didn't know what to do. I didn't dare speak, but I wanted to make it known that I was paying attention and desired help.
I blinked, and a moment later the Dragon blinked. The stained glass started to shift, the head of the Dragon turned within the glass to face me.
I heard in my head the voice of Bahamut, though the mouth in the painting didn't move. The voice was gravelly, deep, and piercing, but at the same time, it was calming enough that I felt as safe as it was possible to feel with a dragon talking to me. "What do you seek?"
Based on the previous vision I'd had, I didn't think Bahamut would ask me questions. I was caught off guard, but knew my answer. "I seek to save my people."
"What would you have of me?" I suddenly felt very foolish. What was I doing there? Why had I come?
I don't think I'd ever talked so quietly. "To know what you want me to do. I know you want me to do something to save my people, but I feel so...lost?"
"Your mind, even your own self is divided in many things. These things cannot be divided any longer. Division is what is causing the great rift in the Eternity Tree. Division must stop. You must be of one mind, you must be of one heart. Those who I have sent to you, who have been at your side, who will continue to be at your side, are the keys that you will need to succeed in this."
I thought of Sindus. Where did he fit in? He was gone now, was he then not one of the keys? Even if we brought him back?
"What troubles you most, Nosgartha?" The use of my family name shocked me. Obviously he knew who I was, he had been the one to show me my parents' journey to Lystran, but I hadn't been addressed like that since I was a young child in school. It made me feel like a child.
I paused to think which of the many things on my mind troubled me most. Evidently it was too long of a pause. "Speak!"
Tears started to well in my eyes. "I do not feel worthy to lead this group."
"Those who lead are often not worthy, or feel not worthy." The words sank like a dagger into my soul. It was true then.
The Dragon continued, "Those who lead are those bold enough to take steps. In time, your place will be assured, and you will know of your leadership, of the blood from which you come. The divided blood.
"You are unique. You are the key, and those around you are the key." He paused, and I pondered on what he had just said. Even if I wasn't worthy, I could still be a leader. And more hints at my ancestry being royal. And again, I was the key. My friends as well, but it seemed I was the constant one.
All I could hear was the Dragon breathing low and deep. I maintained eye contact, as intimidating as this Great Dragon was. His head grew larger, seeming to come closer to me, though it did not leave the window. His snout seemed to be coming right at me.
I held onto every ranger instinct I had to hold still and not run away, but my breath grew shallow and I knew as he stared into my eyes that they surely betrayed the terror I felt. Even as glass, the Dragon seemed so real.
He finally stopped moving closer, and after a moment he spoke again. "Do you fear me?"
There was no use in trying to hide it, and lying would be foolish. I bowed my head in shame and spoke in almost a whisper. "I do."
"Why?"
I looked back at him with tears running down my face. "Because I've feared dragons for a long, long time. I'm trying not to."
I looked back to the ground. I wasn't doing a very good job at trying. Bahamut's voice called me back to look at him. "You do not need to fear all dragons. Caution, yes. Fear, no. Fear is lack of understanding. You have studied much of dragons, you know of our race. Dragons are much divided in the world, which causes chaos. There are those who follow in the right path, and those who follow greed and destruction. Use your wisdom to know which is which.
"Time is of the essence, Tawariell Nosgartha. You and your companions must travel soon if this division is to be claimed again as one. Go now, learn more. Study more, and return to me when the time is right and I will reveal more to you."
The head grew smaller, and the figure returned to its original position, lifeless in the window. I felt like I was waking up. Not from sleep, like I had been doing for weeks now, but from a trance, like I used to do.
I sat there motionless for some time. There was a lot to take in. I'd just spoken with a god, and not just any god, a dragon god. The task I was to perform seemed even more daunting now. Not only were I and my friends to save the Tree, we were to bring unity to not only the elves, but perhaps the entire world.
And what was I to study? I was too stunned in the moment to ask. I doubted it was dragons, I'd studied them so much already. Was it the elves? What more could I learn of them in Emildan? Or did I have to go to Fenraas?
If we were to travel soon, how was I to return to him? How would I know when the time was right? Maybe he didn't mean to the Sanctuary, but in meditation, like I'd just done.
I finally got up and started to leave the room. Just before opening the door though, I looked back to the window. It was the same as before, but I noticed more the faint smile and the kind eyes. Bahamut was stern, yes, but also kind.
Brother Maynard was surprised to see me leave so soon. I shook his hand. "Thank you for your help. I have not been granted a boon at this time, but have received some answers I needed. I do not think I will be back for a while, I must travel soon, but when I return to Emildan I will come visit again."
