Chapter Four
Revelation

Do not question the pain… For it answers not…

If I could dispel anything in what I feel, then it would be to banish pain. Others think I do not express emotion because I am cold, so very cold… Coldness developed from an upbringing of harsh words and harsher punishments normally resulting in that very element of pain. And yet there is something they do not fully understand. I cannot show emotion because when I do so it hurts me even more.

I felt sick, sick and drained both mentally and physically whilst my skin remained hot.

"It is you who is chosen." Her voice was swift to pick up in the atmosphere once more. No question, just a statement to which her companion did not speak, he did however, respond to her wishes and sheathed his weapon.

From where I sat I watched them approach. The bitterness in my eyes was enough to put most Mortals off, but still they came. The girl, roughly the same age as me, garbed in simple robes that gave her very much the look of a lingering essence, like she had been here for what seemed forever. With added curiosity I watched her, a simple and delicate shroud veiled the one side of her face.

"Where is Mortanius, I wish to speak with him?" Her question asked as if I was expected to know, but I did not, for he had left me within that hellish room and gone off to do duties of his own. Nevertheless, if it was one person I desired to see now then it was he, the element of Death. Something was happening to me and I did not understand it.

Before long I felt a hand upon my face, examining the blood that rested there with distant fascination that shone brightly in her eye. I could only see one of her eyes as the other remained veiled, and I understood that it was not polite to stare at such a garment and its purposes let alone question it. These manners had not been instilled in me, oh no they came naturally to a person such as I who felt the glare of many others.

The touch of her hand upon my face was cold, a shocking contrast compared to the heat which consumed my skin at that moment. Her touch yes, it had been cold but I noticed that it had not been as icy as the dagger.

"You know my name?" I asked the girl, feeling a little at ease, as she was just a girl like me, and besides, I was wearier more of her armoured companion who stood mute in silence near by.

"Yes. We know of you." And I wondered how. Perhaps they were from the town where I had dwelled; maybe they had come in search of me to take me back. I paused in thought for such ideas were ludicrous. My father would not hire a 'child' to come after me, although whoever the armoured figure was looked very much like the ideal candidate. But once again I was soon to dispel of the idea. I was out of his way now, gone and is that not that what father had wanted? Unless he enjoyed tormenting me. I gritted my teeth at such a thought.

From such deliberation my hand clenched tightly on to the dagger and before long it had bit into my skin. Blood that flowed suddenly dropped upon the blackened cobblestones.

In time…

Once more the touch of her cold hand upon my face as she smudged some of the blood away. She seemed to be searching out something, something that would perhaps give me reason.

With curiosity she made way to brush away my dejected fringe, much like the female servant had, and again the gesture was poorly received. For people to gaze at such a feature that I beheld put me on edge. Those who had seen it before were quick to bestow me with titles such as 'Monstrous Child'.

I flinched and withdrew, shuffling on my knees away, my head spinning, and my eyes wide with the oncoming knowledge of a slanderous response. 'Freak', yes I knew… I knew and I did not need others to keep on telling me.

And with no warning other then that of my own emotion, the atmosphere was quick to darken with the suppressed shapes of those that would come again if I so needed assistance. That familiar feeling that had taken part back in that room was present once more, how stiff the atmosphere was. My own fear was already under control with understanding that They were there, and I noticed that her companion was swift to draw upon his weapon, unsheathing it and glancing around. Smugly I realised how willing he was to put his 'life' on edge to protect this child.

But the girl did nothing more but stand and look around in her out of the ordinary wonderment. Could she sense Them as well? Or more so, could she see Them? She seemed to be seeing something as her gaze swept the alleyway; in a dazed way, I was intrigued to see what would happen.

"Displeased are your guardians." she announced, still looking around just like she could see them standing in front of her. "They need control Azimuth. They should know when to hold onto Their tempers." The girl frowned; her lip poised in thought and then atmosphere suddenly began to dull into the listlessness it had been before. This startled me in a way, so suddenly Their presence had backed down, what had she done to make them do such a thing?

"How strange, such creatures that watch over Dimension." she went on to mutter, and for a moment I could have sworn that there was a look of vagueness in her eyes, like she had discovered something she could not quite understand.

Her gaze was back on her companion. Once more she gestured for him to sheath his weapon. She called his name, but he seemed reluctant. "They are but screeching shadows Malek. They are of no threat, they remain trapped."
'Ah, but I can set them free…' I thought, although I was not sure where that idea had come from. More importantly I was dejected by the words she had chosen to refer to my companions... 'Screeching shadows'. I was aware that They too were displeased with her choice of vocabulary, but withheld Themselves for reasons unknown.

The look was soon to disappear from her face as she knelt next to me once more. "You have suffered Azimuth." I could tell she was being sympathetic, but such acts have never been received greatly by me. If one is showing sympathy towards you then you are obviously being weak, something I learnt from that childhood of mine.

In return I gazed at her, my hand ready should she even attempt to look upon what she probably knew was there. I was resentful, resentful on all accounts of the word. "The suffering has empowered me." I added in a chilled voice.

Sadly she shook her head. "Your suffering has only made you bitter. You are trapped in hatred which is only now starting to surface."
In response I scowled deeply, and yet They still remained quite. "How do you know I have suffered?" It was no doubtfully obvious due to the condition of me sitting in that alleyway like I did. Obvious that all those living had long ago left this child, but I was curious to what response she would give, and the one she did caught me completely off guard.

"Your Pillar shows it Azimuth. It shows the sorrow you have experienced." She smiled, her image was strong in many ways, and I could feel the power radiate from her in overwhelming currents. "But…" Child she was but deep within was a soul very much like my own, older then most. "Now is the time to start healing Azimuth, healing yourself and fortifying your Pillar."

Her words, so loftily put, but doubt was always there. She spoke of the Pillars of Nosgoth. I knew not much about them, only that they were linked to the Guardians and if what Mortanius said was true then I was apart of it, apart of it all.

But this girl, this girl made me question everything. She was aware of Those that watched over me and she understood the Pillars, or she spoke of them at the very least. I came to think that maybe she was a helper of Mortanius, and the armoured figure was her guardian, or Mortanius', or both perhaps.

One thing remained clear, I found myself agitated at her assumption of things, and her lofty voice that made her seem so different. The way she had stated of my bitterness held me at distance from her, inside I was frowning and even more restless perhaps because in all bluntness of her words, maybe she was right.

I was upon my feet before I even realized, my senses nauseous from the effects of before and I acknowledged that in this condition I preferred sitting then that of standing. For now the alleyway swayed and so did I in some uncommon stance that made my knees and legs feel weak and tired.

She had taken a hold of my hand and was talking to her companion, but the words I did not hear, only the line of where it was she sent him off to find Mortanius. He seemed to protest although I did not catch the vocals of his voice, I only saw her scowl, which seemed to set him right and jadedly he set off with his task in hand.

"He who overshadows." Her voice was distant as she stated those words, speaking more to herself then to me. "I can see why though… It was a great loss…"
Out of respect for her and that of my now queasy mind I decided against asking about what she meant.

When she realised I was quite she turned to confront me. "We will remain here." A frown remained upon her face. "But your condition I worry about. You have a fever and I can tell you from whence it came."

With added haste I shook off any doubt that I had a 'fever', more annoyed that I was being noticed to being seemingly ill, and shaking my head I added 'weakness' in contempt for myself at seeming fragile.

"You are weak because you have drained yourself." She had my attention now, as it was I gazed at her. "I am not sure what exactly happened in the tavern." Her eyes were glancing around the alleyway once more as if she expected something to besiege her at any given moment. "But I know you have nearly drained yourself of any power you may have established without guidance. You will have to learn to control Them."

The way she spoke the word 'Them' was highlighted in a tone within her voice. Something inside of me explained that she did not mean my supposedly powers… but instead 'Them'.

She sat me down once more, in fear that I would suddenly collapse, and we allowed time to pass.

It was tempting to just drift off at that moment, yes I was now seemly weak but I did not have the energy to even try and argue that point, or sit up and frown in defiance that I was not going to be the one to just suddenly drift off.

The flame inside I had extinguished myself, and now the exhaustion from my escape and the fear of the men was begging to catch up with me. Although those elements were starting to take their toll I was not going to be one to admit it. It was tempting, so very tempting… to just… drift off… To do that would ease everything. I shuddered with a chill that fought along with the fever for a hold on my body. And the girl continued to talk.

"You do not know who I am, do you?" she inquired after it was I had remained silent. I noticed that she was not sure whether I was just ignoring her or whether I had simply fallen asleep with tiredness.

"What is your name?" I asked, becoming aware that it would be polite if I did know her name instead of being ignorant not to. My Mother always warned me about ignorance and those that beheld it. Blinded were they, gullible, easily led and weak and vulnerable to the words and those that lied to them. A gentle and fragile creature was my mother, not strong physically yet strong in her soul. Her words where shy ones, shy from all the abuse she had taken from him but they were wise, wise indeed.

With my question in hand the girl was soon to reply. "Ariel." she stated as if it was that the announcement of her name would clarify everything that was perplexing me. But only silence was to respond.

"You have not heard my name spoken before?" I shook my head to say no, and then regretted it as the vertigo resurfaced. But no, I had not and inside I hoped that I was not becoming ignorant like those people mother had spoken of.

Before she could continue I saw her look over to the entrance of the alleyway and then suddenly stand. My heart leaped and pulsated loudly, and I moved, gripping at the wall so that I could stand myself, my vision still swaying although it was beginning to settle.

I wondered who was there, who was there that had made her suddenly get up? And my heart responded like it did in sudden dread that it might be those from the tavern. As I looked over it settled and for the first time in my life I was relieved to see someone.

"What about the unpleasant incident a the tavern?"
"The owner is not aware of who she was. I have clarified the matter, and as far as he is concerned the 'Demonic Child' has been dealt with." Mortanius shook his head with a gruff sigh, Malek stood next to him.

"He knows not of Azimuth or who she is, or what she is. Be at ease Ariel, this matter will not affect us in the slightest. The child however, will have to curb her ways." His voice dwindled off into nothingness when he noticed that I was standing and gazing at him.

"Azimuth has drained herself." Ariel explained before the icon of Death could even ask. Ah so that was the reason for why I was feeling the way I did. The overall captivation of the fever set in when I was using powers that were not even there due to the fact that they had already been spent. Truly I had drained myself in the most collaborated of ways. Yet I had not felt myself being drained. No doubts nervous energy and adrenalin had pushed my mind to an extent, and any warning of such 'apparent' drainage of powers had been lost or pushed back into the depths of my mind.

But I did feel pitiful and wrecked, yet, fear not little Azimuth for I now understand that the older and wiser you get so your powers do grow and no longer am I burnt out so quickly in such basic gestures such as the one I had captivated there. Still, this child did not understand, overall confused, perplexed and overall stubborn. Her ways would change in time, in time when she would start to witness things for herself.

When Mortanius approached he took a hold and steadied my stance, gripping my shoulders firmly.
"You speak of the tavern." I said through half closed eyes. "The servant… the woman?"
"Worry yourself not with such details Azimuth." he replied dryly.
"But she?"
"Has been dealt with." Mortanius the Guardian to the Pillar of Death replied, and I understood what had happened. Did such an acknowledgement have an effect on me? I am not sure. Did I feel sorrow for my part in her last moments? Perhaps the child in me did.

With words suddenly cold and bitter I heard the girl, Ariel, speak. "How is it you know, Mortanius? She might not be whom Moebius spoke of. Just another listless child, one of many."

My eyes snapped open as it was Aerial was to question. Just as peacefulness had been triumphant, and I had been so sure silence was forever to remain, the 'girl' came forth with a question that was questioning who I was, a child who Mortanius deemed to be one of the Guardians of Nosgoth.

When I was with them, Mortanius in particular, I knew I was safe. Now she was questioning this, doubting Mortanius' reasons and decision. Why so? I felt myself shift with uncomfortable scrutiny, eyes fixed upon me from both Ariel and the one they called Malek who as of yet had not spoken.

I could see in her eye that she was baiting the situation. She understood and knew who I was, she knew damn well that Mortanius was right and yet she required proof, and what a time to choose, just when I was feeling drained.

With swiftness he pushed me forwards, careful to mind of my drained condition and faintness. His one hand gripped tightly onto my right arm whilst with the other he lifted the parts of my hair that hid my forehead from intruding looks.

The Third Eye was revealed, my vision cleared and I acknowledge the presence around us, the way They lingered closely to Ariel with plotting minds. But I knew not of what They were thinking at the time.

Suddenly a smile played on her lips. The conceit of that child I had seen was soon to disappear and she became the young mystic once more, the one who had first approached me. It was not that she had not believed Mortanius in his words that stated I was the Guardian of Dimension; it was more that she wanted proof for herself before I was to be accepted. She wanted proof that was linked to the very pillars themselves, and she got it and expected it through the symbolic notion of the Third Eye.

"So it is." The smile was quick to play on her gentle face as she rested a hand on my arm. Truly I was accepted and accepted by the most important figure of the Circle, although at that point I did not know it. At that point I did not realise that she had authority over Mortanius, to question him, to hold him in doubt. After all she was but a child… But then so was I…

"Azimuth, Guardian to the Pillar of Dimension."

As the Third Eye was covered once more the Shadows disappeared, as did the darkness. I looked upon those who had found me, my eyes finally resting upon Ariel and then the fever took hold and my body pleaded deeply to rest.

So it was I was lifted, my body fragile, weak and yet not forgotten, no, not anymore. For once I had meaning and Mortanius had been right.

As I felt him take a hold and lift me up, my arms slipped around his neck naturally so I that I would not slip. And it was with this as I felt my mind begin to give way and the feeling of my carrier's pace below me, that abruptly I noticed a swift change in atmosphere, just as we were to leave the alleyway.

I opened my eyes but did not dare turn to look at the person who blocked the alleyway, for inside I already knew who they were. One of the men from the tavern, the second one who had no doubtfully got away. My face was turned away from him and I smiled at the knowledge that his companion's dagger rested inside one of my garment pockets.

"You have dealt with it?" I could hear the malice in his voice, his eyes averted to my back cutting through with a knifelike glare, and I swallowed hard. "Dealt with my good man." Mortanius replied in reassurance.

With eyes closed I felt myself passed on to that of another. I dared not look at the one from the tavern… the fear was too apparent. And as I was passed on I felt myself placed in the gauntleted hands of the other figure, Malek.

They would not turn me over surely. My eyes half opened and I watched Mortanius approach the man.

He rested a hand on the shoulder of the man and began to guide him off elsewhere. "I can assure you, it has been dealt with." he said.

I did not question what he did, for Death's business is but his own.