Background:
Vocabulary used/created:
kira is pronounced "Kee-ra"
carmus is pronounced "Kar-muss"
Ilonian is pronounced "eye-lone-ee-in"
gilder is pronounced "gill-der"
Etheria is pronounced "eth-ear-ree-a"
Laureth is pronounced "lure-rith"
Orius is pronounced "oh-rye-us"
Alantia is pronounced "ah-lon-shia"
sakura = cherry blossoms
Time:
The story evolves around two different types of time, that in Etheria and that in the mortal world (basically our world). All you need to really know is that in Etheria, time passes much slower than in the mortal (our) world. Also, Etherians refer to years, months, days, etc. in a different term (you'll see when you reach that point).
For those who want the details:
~ Etherians will refer to our years as revolutions (i.e. two mortal revolutions (or simply revolutions) = 2 years)
~ Etherian "turns" = 100 years
~ Etherian "passing" is equivalent to 2 days
(Complicated enough? ^_~;)
Disclaimer: Vision of Escaflowne and its characters and likeliness is copyrighted to its respective company(ies). But the characters I created and this story is copyrighted to me.
Rating: PG-13
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FATES' JUDGEMENT
By Cosmos (ml_eclipse@hotmail.com)
Chapter 2: Life
It was five turns ago when the young man left his world to enter the path of the destiny he chose. Now all instruments for this battle against fate and destiny are in position. The battlefield is ready. The world is waiting for the beginning of the end. All mortals watch and remember…
The early rays of a dawning sun crept silently into the dark room. Its long encroaching fingers stretched ever closer to a large canopy bed situated at the centre. Tugging at the hem of the mauve silk sheets, the rays of light slowly made its way up to the occupant sleeping soundly above. At the pace of a great snail, the light crept up the side and slid across the bed's face like a snake stalking its victim.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, the dawn touched her eyelids in a gentle caress, which soon caused her to faintly stir, ruffling the smooth sheets even further. Rapid, flickering movements beneath the lid could soon be seen as the occupant of the room slowly woke up. As she moved her body around, the light could make out a small dark bundle on the other side of the bed. Curious, the light approached it with care. Surprisingly, the darkness retreated to reveal a small child of only two revs old, sleeping soundly beside his mother. The intense rays of dawn brought about a cry of irritation as the infant was awakened. A sigh escaped his mother's lips as she turned around to comfort her son, her body shielding him from the dawn.
"Hush, my darling," she whispered in a warm and gentle voice, full of love and care. "Do not cry. Do not cry at the dawn or you will ruin the day. Smile always for the twilight is long coming." She whispered the ominous words into his ears, unaware of the picture these words painted of her son's future.
Hearing the calm, loving voice of his mother, the child soon stopped crying and fell back into a deep slumber. A small smile lay comfortingly on his soft pink lips.
His mother continued to watch him with sad maroon eyes as she spoke, "if only your father could have met you before he passed away. Only one more month, if he could have held on for only one more month then you would have had the chance to meet him. Oh, my dearest son," tears crept into her eyes and slid down her cheeks to fall silently onto the soft sheets below, "you do not know how much you look like him. Even as a baby, I can see his strength in you." Turning her gaze away, she looked out the window and said, "How I love you, my son, but I regret of your birth. To be born into a world that now crumbles all around you. You deserve so much more than what I can give you now. You should have come into the world when Etheria was at her greatest. When the land was strong and hopeful. Instead, you have chosen to arrive when our kingdom is dying and a great trial now begun on Earth."
The silent room soaked up all her somber words. In return, it gave her a cold stillness that lay heavily on her soul. The dawn could do nothing to remove the shadows that remained at every corner of the room. Alas, there could be no happiness here. All thoughts of joy were masked by the miseries of a cursed fate.
A soft knocking on the grand red oak doors sliced through the stillness of the room like a sharp blade. It startled her. Quickly she said, "Who is it?"
"It is me, dear sister," came the reply on the other side. "There is urgent news I must inform you about."
"Please come in, Gaia," she said.
Gaia opened the door quietly and entered. Her soft blue eyes gave a quick flicker to the sleeping baby beside her sister, before settling on the woman gazing at her in anxiousness.
"What news do you bring?"
"Varie," Gaia said hesitantly, "I have just received…a very dire piece of information from Orius." She paused for a brief moment, gathering her strength before continuing, "Infinity…she is…she is dead."
Gaia watched as her sister's eyes widened with shock, but as quickly as it came, the surprise soon passed and Varie's pupils narrowed with anger. "How?" was her only response to the incredibly disturbing news.
"She did not die of any ailment. She was killed," Gaia said. "It appears that the mortals know about her"
"How could this be?" Varie said angrily, but her voice was very well kept under control. "Infinity's existence should not have been known, let alone the particular person in which she resides in. Tell me, Gaia, how was it that the mortals come to know of the trial? More importantly, with what dark magic did they use to discover Infinity's mortal identity? A knowledge even I do not have."
"Apparently, the mortals have great powers that we failed to account for," Gaia responded. "A small group of mortal sorcerers with unnatural powers unlike any of their kind somehow tapped into the lines of fate. They now know of the trial you have set for them and they know that Infinity holds the key to it all. They have formed a small group of warriors to fight against you and Infinity. They call themselves The Hunter."
"The Hunter," Varie said, her tone becoming deadly cold. Taking her dark maroon eyes off her sister's solemn gaze, she glanced out the window at the brightly lit sky, but the dark anger building up inside of her overshadowed the beauty of the coming dawn. In her eyes, she could only see the dark clouds that brew mere time's length ahead of her. A future bathed in blood and a fate burdened by sorrow awaited her, but she was resolved to change what the Fates have set for this world. In her mind, she blamed the devastation befallen Etheria on providence. As a result, she had agreed with her sister to create a trial (in defiance of the Three Fates), whereby the destiny of an individual would be determined by the person's very decision. However, the trial would accumulate all mortal decisions to determine the very future of both worlds. Fate would be prevented to have any hand in the destiny of this world.
"I have heard of them," Varie said in a contemplating voice, "The first time their stained name was mentioned to me was over three turns ago, only five turns after the trial's initiation with the birth of the chosen child." A pause interrupted for a brief moment before she continued with an edge in her tone, "Do they know they are simply delaying the inevitable?"
"You should not be angered by their actions," Gaia said in a calm voice. "Instead you should rejoice."
"Rejoice?" Varie cried out in surprise. "What reasons are there for me to rejoice about?"
"As you have said, it is their decisions that will determine their fate. Seeing that they have the courage to fight gives me hope in the purity of the mortal heart."
"It is in their nature to fight," Varie said. "War and pain are born of mortal hearts. Their desire to overpower that which they find greater than themselves is an innate part of their existence."
"It is true the will to fight is part of their nature," Gaia said, her voice remained ever so calm, "but it is also true that they would sacrifice their very existence to protect what they truly love."
Varie remained silent.
Gaia continued, "The love of a mortal heart is a great force to be dealt with." She paused for a brief moment to let the words sink in. Immediately, silence took the opportunity to invade the scene. The room filled up with a heavy atmosphere full of conflict, which waged an unseen war within these two hearts. The suffocating tension was finally broken when she spoke again, "The mortals will continually hunt Infinity down and kill her before the end of the Trial approaches, which is the time when she will give out her judgement. The love for their world is much too great for your trial to run its full course."
"Is it love, sister," Varie asked in a low contemptuous voice, "or is it fear?" She paused briefly before continuing, "If their hearts are true then they have nothing to fear of my trial. Their determination to stop it only proves that they have much to hide. They know what end they have created for themselves, and they fear it. They are afraid of the truth because the truth is what Infinity will judge."
Gaia watched her sister with great concern. She could not decipher Varie's cold expression. Nonetheless, the intensity of her sister's gaze told Gaia that she was now more determined than ever to see this to the end. What Varie said next confirmed this assumption.
"They will not stop the Trial," she said decidedly. "Infinity will be reborn again in eighteen turns. But this time, I will see to it the Trial continues to the very end," then she added, "and this battle will be held on equal grounds."
Varie's last words worried her sister greatly. Her unmoving stance gave Gaia little to act upon. At this point, Gaia knew it was a hopeless struggle to prevent the arrival of the dark future awaiting them in the distant horizon. But like her twin, she was unwilling to give up. There was still one more card to be played, but it would be played with tears and blood.
Suddenly Gaia's gaze shifted from the mother to the son. Her expression changed to deep sorrow; nonetheless her voice was calm when she asked, "How is Van?"
Snapped out of her thoughts, Varie glanced down at her son. All expressions of anger immediately melted away as she watched her child sleep. "He is doing just fine. You know, sister, he has his father's smile, so gentle and kind."
"I have noticed," Gaia said, "but he has his mother's eyes." Then she added, "as well as her devotion."
Varie looked at her sibling in surprise, but Gaia said no more and quietly stepped out of the room, closing the doors gently behind her.
In the dim hallway whose path was crisscrossed with bars of the intruding dawn, Gaia strolled silently to a balcony a little down the way. Standing alone facing the new day, she wept silently for the fate of the young mortal she had met only five turns past. Knowing that a great battle would soon come, she could do little but shed these tears of sorrow for the souls that would soon fall.
On Earth, more than a millennium later, the cry of a newborn would mark the continuation of another arduous journey. Old and young men with staffs and swords drudged wearily along a path toward one destination and one fate. A battle that would be fought long and hard both in spirit and in body would once again continue in an endless dance of defiance against destiny. Yet, unbeknownst to The Hunter, a new player would soon enter the field, one that would end up determining the fate of them all.
On Etheria, another eighteen turns would come and go before the world could witness two silhouettes dancing against the angry face of a setting sun. Flighty and swift like a frightened deer, their beautiful, fluid motions moved across the dark landscape seemingly too quick for their shadows to keep up. Clangs of steel against steel rang throughout the deserted courtyard providing the only music to this intense dance of battle. Sparks of silver let loose from their swords as it clashed with each other, while the shadows hid the ferocity burning in their eyes.
His opponent ducked as he swiped his sword above the rival's head. Noticing a glint of metal blade flashing toward his midsection, he quickly jumped back to escape the silent attack. Without a break in his movement, he swiftly spun around with his blade whistling toward his adversary's upper back, while his free hand pinned down the hand holding his opponent's sword. However, his rival was far too skilled to be defeated so easily. Before he could react, the other man bent forward causing his blade to once again swipe above his opponent's head harmlessly. In a quick twist, he felt his challenger freed his hand and then a powerful blow from the hilt of his rival's sword was brought down on his head, which quickly ended the battle.
Kneeling in defeat, he glared up fiercely at the man several turns his senior hovering above him. His face burned with humility while his hand gripped the hilt of his sword in anger. Once again, he was defeated by the very person he grew up with most of his life. Taught by the same swordsmaster, they were both the best-known fighters in Etheria but they were far from being equal. Ignoring the throbbing in his head caused by the painful blow, he stood up in silence. His fierce eyes never left his rival's face.
"Are you all right, Van?" his opponent asked.
A short silence ensued before he replied in a clipped tone, "I'm fine."
"Hey, don't take it so hard," the other man said in a friendly voice but arrogance lay just beneath the surface.
"You must predict the other fighter's move a lot faster, Van," an old man said as he approached them. "You must learn to see the consequences of your actions before it occurs."
Van watched his approaching swordsmaster quietly. He made no attempts to respond or defend himself. Instead, he gave a simple bow, turned, and strolled silently away leaving the other two gazing at his retreating back in surprise.
"He tries so hard," the younger man said. "You should ease up on him a little, Balgus."
The old man shook his head in dismay at the hot temper of the man leaving them. "That is the problem," Balgus said. "He tries too hard, focuses too much on the techniques but forgets about his heart. Sword fighting is not simply technique. It is the heart and soul that will determine how the battle will end. If you believe in what it is you are fighting for—if your heart is determined—then the battle will be yours. Unlike you, Allen, I'm afraid he doesn't put his heart into the fight."
"Hmm," Allen said thoughtfully as he watched the younger man disappear around a bend, "I don't agree."
"What?"
"It is not that he lacks determination, but there seem to be something there that he just doesn't trust."
"Are you saying he doesn't believe in himself? Why, he may not be as good as you now but I have a feeling he will improve quite quickly with a few more years of training. His skills are far greater than any swordsman around. He has great potential. Why, he may even exceed you Allen if you're not careful."
Ignoring the last comment, Allen said, "No, it is not that. In truth, I am not quite sure what it is. That boy has such an enigmatic character that even Eos (the old seer) could not understand. Always silent and brooding, as if there is something in his past that prevents him from—never mind." Abruptly changing the subject, he said, "Enough about Van's temperament, Balgus, I am starving; let's go find something to eat."
"I'm with you on that," the old man agreed cheerfully.
As the two men left the courtyard, a shadow appeared from behind a tall evergreen. Having heard everything, the figure whispered in a sad voice, "A free conscience and determined mind, that will be your liberty."
As soon as he stepped into the hallway, an ominous hush quickly spread throughout the building. Even the heavy velvet curtains, lazily flapping in the warm summer wind on the right side of the long hall, produced no sounds. It appeared as if someone had pulled him out of the scene and now he was watching everything from the outside like an audience completely captivated by the actors strutting on stage, oblivious to the background changing before them. There was something here: a piece of news, a flash of the future, or a glimpse of fate. Whatever it might be, he could feel the apprehensive mood vibrating throughout the building. Its prickly claws scratched his nerves and jostled his heart into an ever-heightened beat of rhythm.
Suddenly, his mother's voice snapped him out of this strange enchantment. "Van," she called to him from within a room a little ways down the hall. It appeared that she was expecting him.
Quickening his pace, and ignoring the strange feeling nagging in the back of his mind, Van responded, "I'm here mother," just as he reached the doorway.
He saw his mother's frail frame etched out by the scarlet rays of the setting sun. She was standing by a tall Victorian window framed with heavy deep blue silk curtains, gazing solemnly at her kingdom with her back to him. The pale, grief-written face of her reflection gazed out at her deep within the glass full of pity for the person that stood before it. With long, quiet strides, he stepped across the dark grey marble floor. Its polished surface mirrors the sad scene playing out above it.
When his mother made no move to speak, Van took it upon himself to break the tensed atmosphere, "You wanted to see me, mother?"
"Yes, Van," Varie said in a voice that reflected her sad expression; then she fell silent once again.
Deeply concerned about his mother's unusual behaviour, Van stepped closer and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Mother," he whispered in a low tone, "what is wrong mother?"
"Turns ago, Infinity was once again found and killed by The Hunter," his mother whispered gravely without answering her son's question, "Despite the many millennia passed, the mortals have handed down their knowledge as well as their determination to defeat Infinity and end my trial. Their continual interference has only confirmed my fear of their ill nature. Now I am sure their hearts are only full of darkness, which would explain why they are so determined to prevent Infinity from passing judgement. They wish to hide the truth.
"Van," she whispered, "the mortals must not win this time. The Trial must be seen to completion for time is running out. Infinity must pass her judgement by the next 2 mortal revolutions, or all our fighting will be to no avail. The time is drawing nearer when the next Successor is to be determined. If what I fear is true, then mortal succession will only lead to the very same end that Etheria now faces." Varie sighed exhaustedly before continuing, "In all honesty, Van, I'm afraid the mortals might win this time. If this battle ends in their victory then the peace of our world will end. The mortals cannot be trusted, not after seeing how they are willing to deny the very truths of their own hearts."
"Then what is there to be done, mother?" Van asked with concern.
"Infinity must be protected from The Hunter until the end of the trial," his mother replied, "but that is where I hesitate."
"Why?"
"The mortal identity of Infinity has been a secret since the beginning of the trial. Neither the mortals nor any Etherians know of its hidden secret, not even me. The Three Fates had deemed it thus, so that equality can come from the judgement."
"Then how are we to protect what we do not even know?"
"There is one power that even the Three Fates cannot govern," Varie said. "The crystal of Alantia has the power to detect Infinity's energy, thereby allowing its master the ability to live outside of fate."
"Live outside of fate?" Van whispered in awe, then continued, "Then we'll use it to find Infinity."
"It is not that easy, Van," his mother cautioned. "Being the master of Alantia comes with a price." Varie hesitated before continuing, "The crystal curses its master."
Van stared at his mother in surprise. "Curse? How?"
His mother answered in a soft whisper, "He will be isolated from his world and home. With each passing, his existence will slowly be erased. Any memories of him will forever fade away from the deepest recesses of the minds and hearts of the people he once knew and loved."
Van gasped in shock. "You mean after a certain time no one will ever remember this person?"
"That is right," Varie said. "That is Alantia's curse on its bearer. That is the price its master must pay to live outside of fate. Because when you live outside of fate, Van, you live outside of people's hearts and memories. Fate is what binds us all."
After the last spoken word, silence quickly overtook them. Outside, a deep purple hue fell across the land unnoticed by these two troubled souls. The very tip of the setting sun could barely be seen peeping above the horizon. Van allowed his solemn gaze to fall on the weaving brushes just outside the window. The unique flora shimmered like ocean tides as the cold night wind pushed it from side-to-side, revealing the silver underbelly of the leaves at one moment then flipping it back to the dark green side seconds later. But the night's beauty went unnoticed by him. All he could think about was the sudden thought that rose in his mind, and the foreboding feeling which once again became noticeable. Finally, he understood what he had observed many passings before: his mother's somber disposition, her solitude, and the silent tears she attempted to hide. All was due to this dilemma. It appeared that she had finally reached her conclusion.
Giving a sigh of relinquishment, Van ended the heavy silence by stating quietly, "You have chosen me to go didn't you, mother?"
Varie looked up at her son in surprise, but before she was able to answer he continued speaking.
"There is no need to explain," he said. "I could sense it from the beginning."
While he spoke, tears drifted down Varie's beautiful face. She turned her face away from her son, as emotions of grief grew unbearable.
"At first, I thought you might have chosen Allen," Van continued in the same forlorn voice, "but I knew he could not make such a sacrifice, not while his sister remains. Then I thought of Balgus or possibly Gaia, my dear aunt, but he is too set in his ways to accept the change, and Gaia is needed here to help you govern Etheria. Then there is only myself left to consider. I am still young with little memories yet formed to attach me to Etheria. I have no one but you and Gaia. I am the perfect candidate."
"Van," Varie spoke in a quiet steady tone portraying emotions he could not understand, "you are right. You are the perfect candidate but not for those reasons. Something much greater drives me to make this decision."
He quickly turned to give her a questioning look but found that she was staring solemnly out the window. She was avoiding his gaze. He watched his mother speak with sorrow growing deep within his heart. He noticed each and every single tear of pain that escaped her dark maroon eyes but also the steadiness in her tone as she spoke.
"You will find the crystal in the heart of old Etheria," his mother explained. "With it you can find Infinity. However, with the knowledge you will soon possess, you are barred from ever returning to Etheria." A brief pause ensued before she continued, "You may not understand now but one day you will see why I have chosen you to protect Infinity."
"Is it because it's my fate?" he asked sardonically.
Surprised by his comment and the tone at which he spoke, Varie turned quickly to look at her son. She could sense great turmoil in his heart. Did he see this as her betrayal of him?
"Van, I would never…" she began but his heavy sigh interrupted her. He turned toward the door, but made no move to leave.
"I understand," he said quietly. "I will see to it that the trial runs its full course, mother. I will succeed in this for you." Without another word, he quickly left the room. That was his goodbye.
Varie leaned her forehead against the cold glass as she wept silently for her son. Looking up, she caught sight of the last rays of the dying sun marking the end of another passing. "Alas, Lady Dawn," she whispered, "thou shall take one memory from my heart every time thou pass to sleep." Her low murmur echoed faintly in the dark empty room.
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Next: Chapter 3: "Quest for Infinity"
Cosmos 2004