5: Moris Argo and the Oracles
It is an eerie feeling, to see all that was previously destroyed standing tall and strong
once more. In Burmecia, a look of destruction and antiquity was commonplace, but only after
my reign had Cleyra ever had to rebuild. However, glancing up at the Temple of the Council,
Cleyra's great Cathedral, I was struck with wonder.
Its smooth, sea-green pillars gracefully held up the intricate windows, giving passers by
a feeling of welcome and security. Free from its horrific past, Cleyra could once more feel safe
enough to let its guard down to complete strangers.
Following Sashr'en's lead, I slowly approached the towering entrance to the temple.
On either side, guards stood. Strong, tall soldiers, their quick glance into my eyes left my soul
anxious and fearful. I was shaken by the new emotions, for in the moment, I had come face to
face with fact. I could not continue to dwell in my past life. In my mind, I might have been Kuja
the almighty, but in their eyes I was a frightened, silverhaired little boy, only just becoming a
man.
"Come on, Kuja," Sashr'en beckoned, and took hold of my wrist. Her grasped saved
me from the frightening interrogation.
Up the narrow steps of the temple, we entered the main chamber, where in a daily ritual
was taking place.
It was the dance of the wind, that which kept the Cleyran's surrounded and safe by a
windy barrier. The dancers movements, in time with the ancient song of the harp, brought
renewal of life to the twister each day. But the true power lay in the crystal, resting atop the
harp's large frame. I had held it once, and was no stranger to its glow, but that would not be
possible now. In a way, I was thankful.
The dance concluded, and the dancers withdrew. As the pulled back to either side of
the chamber, the thrown of the Cleyran Emperor was revealed. At his side, sat two others, a
man and woman, presumably the oracles. The Emperor was youthful, no more than five years
my own age. The thought startled me. How many young had been left to rule in place of their
fathers and mothers before them?
The oracles were much his senior, the man appearing at least in his forties, the women
well into her final years. The man appeared a teacher or scholar, the woman a mystic of the
village. They kept the balance, between young and old, science and magic. The only mystery
left was that of the Emperor and his youth.
Sashr'en fell unto her knees, and I did the same. Keeping our eyes on the floor, we
heard the Emperor make his way down to us. I glanced to my left, just enough to see him
examine Sashr'en. His eyes told a story, almost watering at the sight of her.
"Hello, Sashr'en Crescent. I have missed you," He spoke softly, trying to maintain a
look of control.
Sashr'en refused to look up, keeping her thoughts within. She closed her eyes, and
from them I saw a single tear fall.
The Emperor paused, longing to release his suppressed emotions, but, remembering his
place, turned quickly, and headed toward me. I quickly brought my eyes back to the floor.
I watched his feet fall before me, a pale greyish-purple, with worn pearl claws tapping
upon the floor.
I heard a gasp, then whispers. The two oracles leapt up from their seats and encircled
me. The woman's fragile hand fell upon my crystal horn. More silence, and then the Emperor
spoke.
"Is he a summoner?" He asked of the woman.
"I cannot see how..."
"But how do you explain it?"
"We cannot," The man answered, his voice deep and calm.
They then pulled back.
"You may stand, Sashr'en Crescent. And you, you are?"
I glanced over to Sashr'en, but she refused to meet my eyes. Her mind was
momentarily elsewhere, lost amidst dreams and memories. How much she must have been
missing her daughter.
"I am Kuja Minerva."
Now able to fully view the Emperor, I saw in him more wisdom than I would have
expected. His eyes were a piercing blue, and blond hair fell gently across his smooth, boyish
face. He wore a large purple robe, beneath which lay a coat of arms upon a faded suit of
armour.
"I am the Emperor of Cleyra. My name is Moris Argo, the son of the Burmecian
knight, Marius Argo. You... You are a stranger, or rather, a mystery, at least in the eyes of the
Oracles. However, you did save Sashr'en... Do you remember anything about that night?
When..., " A pause. Moris glanced at Sashr'en., "When Sadr'ena was taken?"
Sashr'en looked to me now, hoping I had the answers. Sadly, I could not lie.
"Only that I awoke to smoke, and to Sashr'en's cries. It was too dark, to hazy to go
back into the tavern, and besides that, I did not have the strength. Sashr'en and I are lucky
enough to be alive."
The Emperor began pacing, reviewing my statement internally.
"Well," He began, "Cleyra has sent half of its forces along with many of Burmecia's men
on a search for her. The captors can't have gotten too far."
Moris then spun around, and went to sit back atop his thrown. Back turned, he spoke
quickly to us.
"Stay as long as you like. You may leave as you wish, Mister Minerva. Sashr'en is safe
now."
One of the dancers, around Sashr'en's age, came and took her aside. She sat down
amongst the others and spoke softly.
Sashr'en safe and comforted, I now needed questions of my own answered. I quickly
approached the steps leading up to the throne. A look of surprise and intrigue came across the
Emperor's face.
"Sashr'en said you would have the answers."
The boy glanced to his side, both oracles as clueless as he as to what I might desire to
know.
"It will all depend on the questions..." He calmly replied.
I stood tall, trying to hide my longing for the answers. Perhaps he would reveal to me
my quest and purpose.
"I would like to know about the Four Powers. Why are the great kingdoms of Gaia in
danger, and why is Queen Eiko so ill?"
Moris glanced over at the ancient harp, at the glowing, shimmering jewel resting atop it.
He took a hand, and rose it to point in the gem's direction.
"The answer, " He said, "Lies within the heart of Gaia. It rests within the Crystals..."
It is an eerie feeling, to see all that was previously destroyed standing tall and strong
once more. In Burmecia, a look of destruction and antiquity was commonplace, but only after
my reign had Cleyra ever had to rebuild. However, glancing up at the Temple of the Council,
Cleyra's great Cathedral, I was struck with wonder.
Its smooth, sea-green pillars gracefully held up the intricate windows, giving passers by
a feeling of welcome and security. Free from its horrific past, Cleyra could once more feel safe
enough to let its guard down to complete strangers.
Following Sashr'en's lead, I slowly approached the towering entrance to the temple.
On either side, guards stood. Strong, tall soldiers, their quick glance into my eyes left my soul
anxious and fearful. I was shaken by the new emotions, for in the moment, I had come face to
face with fact. I could not continue to dwell in my past life. In my mind, I might have been Kuja
the almighty, but in their eyes I was a frightened, silverhaired little boy, only just becoming a
man.
"Come on, Kuja," Sashr'en beckoned, and took hold of my wrist. Her grasped saved
me from the frightening interrogation.
Up the narrow steps of the temple, we entered the main chamber, where in a daily ritual
was taking place.
It was the dance of the wind, that which kept the Cleyran's surrounded and safe by a
windy barrier. The dancers movements, in time with the ancient song of the harp, brought
renewal of life to the twister each day. But the true power lay in the crystal, resting atop the
harp's large frame. I had held it once, and was no stranger to its glow, but that would not be
possible now. In a way, I was thankful.
The dance concluded, and the dancers withdrew. As the pulled back to either side of
the chamber, the thrown of the Cleyran Emperor was revealed. At his side, sat two others, a
man and woman, presumably the oracles. The Emperor was youthful, no more than five years
my own age. The thought startled me. How many young had been left to rule in place of their
fathers and mothers before them?
The oracles were much his senior, the man appearing at least in his forties, the women
well into her final years. The man appeared a teacher or scholar, the woman a mystic of the
village. They kept the balance, between young and old, science and magic. The only mystery
left was that of the Emperor and his youth.
Sashr'en fell unto her knees, and I did the same. Keeping our eyes on the floor, we
heard the Emperor make his way down to us. I glanced to my left, just enough to see him
examine Sashr'en. His eyes told a story, almost watering at the sight of her.
"Hello, Sashr'en Crescent. I have missed you," He spoke softly, trying to maintain a
look of control.
Sashr'en refused to look up, keeping her thoughts within. She closed her eyes, and
from them I saw a single tear fall.
The Emperor paused, longing to release his suppressed emotions, but, remembering his
place, turned quickly, and headed toward me. I quickly brought my eyes back to the floor.
I watched his feet fall before me, a pale greyish-purple, with worn pearl claws tapping
upon the floor.
I heard a gasp, then whispers. The two oracles leapt up from their seats and encircled
me. The woman's fragile hand fell upon my crystal horn. More silence, and then the Emperor
spoke.
"Is he a summoner?" He asked of the woman.
"I cannot see how..."
"But how do you explain it?"
"We cannot," The man answered, his voice deep and calm.
They then pulled back.
"You may stand, Sashr'en Crescent. And you, you are?"
I glanced over to Sashr'en, but she refused to meet my eyes. Her mind was
momentarily elsewhere, lost amidst dreams and memories. How much she must have been
missing her daughter.
"I am Kuja Minerva."
Now able to fully view the Emperor, I saw in him more wisdom than I would have
expected. His eyes were a piercing blue, and blond hair fell gently across his smooth, boyish
face. He wore a large purple robe, beneath which lay a coat of arms upon a faded suit of
armour.
"I am the Emperor of Cleyra. My name is Moris Argo, the son of the Burmecian
knight, Marius Argo. You... You are a stranger, or rather, a mystery, at least in the eyes of the
Oracles. However, you did save Sashr'en... Do you remember anything about that night?
When..., " A pause. Moris glanced at Sashr'en., "When Sadr'ena was taken?"
Sashr'en looked to me now, hoping I had the answers. Sadly, I could not lie.
"Only that I awoke to smoke, and to Sashr'en's cries. It was too dark, to hazy to go
back into the tavern, and besides that, I did not have the strength. Sashr'en and I are lucky
enough to be alive."
The Emperor began pacing, reviewing my statement internally.
"Well," He began, "Cleyra has sent half of its forces along with many of Burmecia's men
on a search for her. The captors can't have gotten too far."
Moris then spun around, and went to sit back atop his thrown. Back turned, he spoke
quickly to us.
"Stay as long as you like. You may leave as you wish, Mister Minerva. Sashr'en is safe
now."
One of the dancers, around Sashr'en's age, came and took her aside. She sat down
amongst the others and spoke softly.
Sashr'en safe and comforted, I now needed questions of my own answered. I quickly
approached the steps leading up to the throne. A look of surprise and intrigue came across the
Emperor's face.
"Sashr'en said you would have the answers."
The boy glanced to his side, both oracles as clueless as he as to what I might desire to
know.
"It will all depend on the questions..." He calmly replied.
I stood tall, trying to hide my longing for the answers. Perhaps he would reveal to me
my quest and purpose.
"I would like to know about the Four Powers. Why are the great kingdoms of Gaia in
danger, and why is Queen Eiko so ill?"
Moris glanced over at the ancient harp, at the glowing, shimmering jewel resting atop it.
He took a hand, and rose it to point in the gem's direction.
"The answer, " He said, "Lies within the heart of Gaia. It rests within the Crystals..."