Chapter -32: An Eclipse Down Two Paths
A few days later…
Under the shadows of Sancturia's church, Lilith and Glade were conversing in private.
Glade poked her inquisitive mind with a simple question, "Was the new pollen to your liking?"
"Hmm, the effects lasted a while after the mask was removed…" Lilith laid her hand out in a dainty fashion and her voice deepened with disgust, "It's not enough. Make it stronger."
"That will take some time." Glade warned.
Lilith's closed eyes crinkled and she began to mutter coldly, "If you spent less time on one insignificant weed-"
"He is not insignificant," Glade eyed her with a gaze wide and inebriated on focus, "You would have their Wellspring already if it wasn't for him."
Lilith reached out and fiddled her fingernails against his cheek, "You are hyper fixated on him to an unhealthy degree. I would hate to assume you can fail me too…Glade."
Glade lightly slapped her on the wrist and glared her down again, "I accept what I am. A failure is not part of my 'poison'."
"Good, good. So long as we have an understanding here," Lilith crossed her arms with a feathery weight behind them and then peeked through her eyelids, "Speaking of failures, has Nimus delivered on his end?"
"Yes, he extracted saliva from the mysterious beast in the Hypothermic Wilds. The crown should be prepared in a few months time…But I still believe his failure should be dealt with."
"Hmm, if he's still loyal through proxy to you then I don't care how much he cowers from my presence." Lilith said in a mildly humored tone.
Glade narrowed his eyes.
Lilith then waved her hand around and sighed, "After all who cares about a few failures. Yes…just a few failures…slowly building up over time…"
Her voice started to become eerily quiet as she curled her fingers in one at a time until the thumb tightened up and made her knuckles crack.
Her teeth quivered and she muttered aloud, "Failure…!"
"YOU!" Roared the violent, obnoxious child.
Lilith sharpened her closed gaze like glass and saw Vermilion stampeding towards her.
With a twitch of her smile the Sage gestured to her compatriot and he retreated deeper into the shadows.
Vermilion dragged herself under Lilith's chin and started screaming, "What's the big idea sending your assassin into my hunting grounds?!"
"Your hunting grounds?" Lilith uttered in cold bemusement.
"That's RIGHT…!" Vermilion scowled and started to point all her fingers on one hand at Lilith's neck, "That was supposed to be the brat's special day too!"
"Oh? Are you assigning…sentimentality to your little toy?" Lilith said, her interest in this conversation now bordering on annoyance.
Vermilion scoffed through her teeth, "D-Don't change the subject…!"
"Oh no it's all relevant, but I suppose I should know better than to expect a tantrum throwing child to see the bigger picture."
Vermilion had her fingernails scraping Lilith's skin as she told her, "Get it through your head before I do the job for ya, Lilith, you do NOT intervene in my hunts."
In less than a second Lilith was choking Vermilion in one hand while pinning her against the wall of the church.
Without removing the seal on her gaze her piercing cold still managed to paralyze the Sage into submission, making her struggle with her dwindling air.
"You will listen and listen well, child." Lilith spoke quietly and without emotion.
"My…OUR mission…is to collect the Wellsprings. And to do that requires the Titans to lower their guards."
"Thus, we want to keep the Tribes at each other's throats so the emotional distress of war burdens the Titans."
"Had my Silver Shroud been successful, the leader of those stone-carving barbarians would have perished without ever pinning it back to me."
"But because YOU thought you had a brain, they were on high alert, and I only succeeded in slaying a few meager muscleheads."
Lilith crunched down on Vermilion's windpipe to make her gag, "So…! How exactly do you plan to compensate me for your failure?"
Vermilion was given just enough freedom to plead her case, and did so with a hint of submissive fright in her tone, "W-We would have brought that whole damn ravine down…! If it wasn't for…wasn't for…"
Lilith jerked her against the wall and crossed her brows, "Excuses? Pitiful…"
"D-Damn it…! How was I supposed to know that monolith of few words had taken their side?!"
Lilith perked up and then immediately dropped her onto the ground. She coughed and wheeled while Lilith turned and started rubbing her chin.
"Hmmm…"
Vermilion wobbled onto her feet and lashed her hand out to declare, "I knew he'd become a pain in our ass one day…!"
Lilith held her hand back and whispered, "Hush."
A long, snaky smile crossed her face as she remarked, "This is good, actually."
She turned with her eyes creased open and her hand outstretched towards the ground, "We had been lacking a means of keeping him out of the picture, but now? His alliance with those 'savages' will put him in an unfavorable light with Borealis."
Vermilion went from shaken to smiling in seconds, "Great…! Let's corner him and take him down!"
Lilith raised a finger and muttered, "No. Not yet. There will be…a more opportune time to destroy his reputation. Plus…"
Lilith raised her finger to her chin, "I am curious to know what he's after with this…alliance."
She then smiled and gestured out at Vermilion again, basking in a faint, saintly light, "Rejoice, child, your failure has proven more useful than the other ones have of late."
Vermilion then grit her teeth in an unease scowl, "T-This doesn't change anything between us…!"
"Hmph. Fine. I won't interfere in your hunts then. But…you must resume focus on your designated lands."
"That place is boring now…!"
"I promise to make it interesting soon enough." Lilith uttered with confidence.
Vermilion grinned wide and chuckled, "Then I'll keep training that brat so we can cause some REAL damage next time."
She then ran off pleased with herself, leaving Lilith to open her eyes partway with cold detachment to her aggression, "Say what they want to hear, and you will always have their loyalty."
"I fear…" The image of Sarajin briefly popped in her head and she imagined she could crush it in her closing hand, "Nothing."
On the opposite side of Sancturia, Lunis can be seen dipping her legs into the pure water creek for some much needed R&R.
Now nearing her twenties, she has matured into a tall, slender legged figure of beauty, but not without sacrificing any of her child-like sense of curiosity.
The water cleansed any stress from her nerves, and after a half hour and not a minute longer she stood up, dried off, and covered her legs behind her robe.
Her body shivered as she looked at herself, haunted by the feeling of Lilith's slender fingers wrapping themselves around whatever parts she pleased.
Lunis calmly took a deep breath and just focused on ignoring those horrible thoughts.
Today, she was safe to be herself.
Today, she could control her life.
These hands were meant to hold books, hug others. Not take lives.
Her body knew exactly what it wanted but she lacked the courage to say that she deserved it.
So she carried herself through another day, her next destination being that of Lady Auris' abode.
Whereas the rest of the city made her tense to wander around, Auris' home was like a firefly lit lamp in a foggy forest.
She could always find it and relax, be that curious little girl just a while longer.
Even with the growing weight of her chest and the length of her legs, she almost couldn't acknowledge that she was almost an adult.
She made long struts around the other Aurian's gazes and felt like an outcast. She could see the world in a way few people could, while the rest of the people, usually muted in expression, appeared to gaze up at her with awe.
It made her not so much timid, but a little freaked out.
She read about figures that inspired such emotions: Gods.
The Titans were the closest thing this world had to them. They were described as magnificent, indescribable.
Her? Like them?
It was easy to describe herself. She was tall, loved books, and had silver hair.
She was as simple as could be.
She HAD to be as simple as she could be.
Eventually she held her head up high and made her way through the crowd to reach Auris' home.
A couple light knocks on the side and she made her way inside.
Auris walked out of the kitchen, drying a cup with a towel, and greeted her with the comfort of a warm day, "Lunis. Welcome. Please, have a seat."
Now Auris? She was much, much more worthy of being called a goddess.
She was consistently beautiful and had the presence of a mystery novel to her. A face that asked many questions, and tempted anyone to read on to learn more.
Yet she carried herself so proudly about the room with an overwhelming nurturing presence. When she was in this house, with her, Lunis felt like she had a mother.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." Lunis whispered.
"Never," Auris took a seat across from her and asked, "What do you need to talk about?"
"Nothing really. Ummm…" She turned to look up the stairs, "Is Mr. Sarajin home?"
"He's helping Zeno train on the outside."
"Outside…" Lunis murmured with a hint of envy.
Auris leaned in and propped her fingers under her chin, "Speak, please. It's just us."
She then whispered in a soothing tone, "I won't let her touch you."
Lunis froze up for a moment and then started to laugh, her voice cracking until a tear rolled down her cheek, "I-I only get to see the outside when she puts that mask on my face."
"I can tell how wonderful and varied the world is, but I never get to enjoy it."
"I'm trapped in somebody else's body…It scares me so much I can barely sleep at night anymore."
She dried her cheek with her knuckles and raised her head with a smile to try and power through the pain, "But…I don't know who I am."
"You're Lunis," Stated Auris, "Daughter of Justek, lover of books, and a kind young lady cruelly made a victim of a terrible world."
It only confirmed everything she already knew, and thus begged a question born from desperation, "When do I get to BE me?"
Auris closed her eyes and tried to answer as best she could, "We're doing the best we can with what we have. I…can't plant an expectation in your head. That would just be crueler."
Lunis remained calm against the fever of her heartbeat and squeezed her hand between her chest wondering, "It sometimes feels like I was meant to be something else, a-and maybe Lady Lilith is just correcting my mistakes…"
"Don't let her fill your head with nonsense," Auris remarked heartily, "You are a strong girl, and so, so very brave. And no amount of her cruelty will kill the person you want to be."
Lunis sniffled and smiled, "T-Thank you. Sorry you had to tell me this again."
"I will as many times as it takes, because it's the truth."
Auris walked over and lightly hugged her on the back, relieving her of today's burdens with a couple pats on the back.
And then she whispered into her ear, "I wish I could do more."
"I know you're doing all you can, Lady Auris. You…and Mr. Sarajin."
After that, Auris gave her some fruit out of concern for her health and sent her on her way.
Lunis cautiously left the house and wanted to make sure, above all else, that she didn't run into her brother.
She's been successful so far because he has a very predictable routine to get around.
He saw her body being puppeteered for killing. How could she explain herself?
No, it was better to let this pass. It's not like he cared that much.
He'll find something to grab his interest. Then she can go on living like there was still a familial bond between them.
"What am I thinking?" She gasped in horror.
But, the truth was a painful necessity. If she struggled being "Lunis", he was the polar opposite, embracing what someone else decided was "Solaris".
And it didn't just hurt her, but their father as well. And he could try and hide his feelings, but she was no longer blind.
It was her responsibility to maintain some semblance of normalcy in their small family.
Thus, for the rest of the day, her plan was to go to the library, pick up some books, and read alongside her dad.
She opened the library doors with a smile and a breath of the book scents.
She then froze in horror as Solaris was standing there, barring the way with his arms crossed to intimidate.
She recoiled out the door and he shoved his way after her.
"W-Why are you here?" She stuttered in increasing worry, "You should be with-"
"My teacher? She's resting! You should know that, YOU WERE THERE!" Solaris flared his aura and then towered his presence over her as he started shouting, "What's the big idea, Lunis?! How long have you been able to kill?"
Lunis shook her head, losing sight of her comfort zone behind her brother's scary visage, "I-It's not what you think! THAT'S NOT ME!"
"You think I can't recognize my sister?! Gah!" Solaris went straight to planting his finger deep into her chest and glaring her in the eyes, "Whatever you're doing, I'm telling you to cut it out! Out there…"
He jammed his thumb into his chest, "Is MY territory."
For a moment, Lunis was fooled into thinking he was concerned about her well-being.
"Your territory?!" She gasped out in disbelief.
Solaris crossed his arms back up and scowled, "Is there a problem?"
"Listen to you! What you've become…" Lunis passionately cried out for the brother she remembered, "It's wrong!"
Solaris' brows rose in fury and his scowl trembled, "Are you trying to make me stop?"
"Yes! This is insane! You're not supposed to be this person, I…" She feverishly waved her hand against her chest with a bitter expression, "Am not supposed to be that person either."
"They've ruined us, Solaris! Open your eyes!"
Solaris' eyes slowly widened before settling a deep, grudgeful glare, "I know what this is about…You want father all to yourself."
"N-No…? What…?!"
Solaris lashed his arm out and flared his aura again, "He gives you all the attention, and I'm left with the scraps!"
"I thought…!" He paused with a frustrated grunt, "That if I was strong, and took care of the people threatening father, he'd pay attention to me again!"
"But you won't even let me have that! It has all been about you, you, you...! Poor, pitiful Lunis!"
Lunis stuttered, "T-That's ridiculous, father-"
She didn't have the strength to fight past his rage, spreading out like an inferno, "Zip it! You don't care. All that matters is that people love you, so you lie and manipulate them!"
He grit his teeth and declared with sincere, heartfelt grief, "But I care damn it...! Father deserves better than what you're too weak to give! And that's revenge on the people who threaten him!"
It was at that moment Lunis realized she had really lost the precious brother that would energetically run around with her along the rooftops.
All she could see...was Vermilion's burning specter hanging over him.
Yet her anguish could not silence the feelings in her heart, so she reached out with one last, weak whimper, "This isn't you..."
Solaris pulled away with his face red and his teeth grit down so hard they looked ready to break, "I'm DONE talkin' to you, Lunis. If I see you in my territory again, I'll...I'LL...!"
He lashed his arm out and shouted, "Just don't do it!"
He ran away and Lunis reached out in vain, before pulling her hand back against her chest, haunted by what he said, "You lie and manipulate them!"
"N-No...I don't...I..." And within the forming cracks of self-doubt, she could feel Lilith's influence worming its way inside of her soul.
And so for a brief, intoxicating moment, Lunis enjoyed the feeling of manipulating others to get what she wanted.
And it was enough to bring her to her knees and cry and laugh.
All this, foreseen by Justek in the comfort of his room the prior day...
He chose to cut off this vision of sorrow with a deep, nasally sigh and right as he awoke, he heard a humble knock coming from his door.
He mustered up his manners and said, "Come in, Sarajin."
The specificness of his invitation briefly delayed his friend's entrance, yet when he was inside there was still a presence of awkwardness coming off his body.
Justek stood with his staff held out beside him and remarked, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
This was a conversation a long time in the making. But he would not be premature regardless. It was Sarajin's right to say the first words.
"I…had a talk with our friends recently," Sarajin reached out with a gesture more confused than upset, "When was I supposed to find out what was going on with your kids?"
"..." Justek nudged up his glasses on one finger and remarked, "There was a point in my life where I was willing to succumb to hopelessness in silence."
"But I evaluated my will to live against the people who would mourn me and realized…I wouldn't be satisfied dying unheard."
"Yet i was stupid, which allowed my children to slip out of my hands. By the time I could hold on again, they had grown under other influences…Now the best I can do is fight to keep their love."
"And I knew that if word of my troubles reached your ears, you'd make it your responsibility," Justek let go of his glasses and stared at his dear friend with sincerity, "But they are mine."
Sarajin went silent but his eyes pitied him heavier than he could bear.
Justek looked at him in turn, stating with utter confidence, "If I looked you in the eyes and said that I loved those two more than a thousand of my hearts could contain…would you even believe me?"
Sarajin's mouth went agape and with a swift turn aside he squeezed his fist and mumbled, "I never wanted my friends to start lying to protect me."
He then turned to his friend and gestured, "I made mistakes, got overwhelmed. But you're still my best friend, Justek, so please…rely on me."
His words left Justek's heart aching with tenderness. Smiling, he then whispered, "I remember when it used to go the other way."
He then sighed and turned around, "Being an adult is rough, and only gets worse with time."
"My children…I feel they barely got to have a childhood, and soon it will be too late to go back. What do you think should be done, old friend?"
Sarajin sturdied his gaze and declared, "We have to stop Lilith, she's the one behind all this."
"Only her…?" Justek said under his breath, he then looked over his shoulder with a mournful gaze to ask, "Is it frustrating…to keep dealing with me?"
Sarajin shook his head, his smile beaming, "Not at all."
Justek turned around and whispered. "Thank you."
"I will do whatever I can from the inside, and share it with you first and foremost."
"And Auris and I will keep your kids from hurting others."
Justek paused to slant his brows and a slip of the tongue, "Auris…"
"Knew about this." He wanted to say, take back a little trust between friends where she had failed to provide.
He instead kept to a whisper and smiled softly when faced with his confusion, "Never mind."
Sarajin then left at his request, for he wanted to get back to meditation.
...Except when he was sure that his friend was far enough away, Justek turned and pointed his staff at empty air, opening a rift into darkness.
And as he walked through, what awaited him was a construct of metal and electric wires cobbled together to form the shape of a beast.
It was incomplete, but far enough into construction that it could perform some operations.
He stood tall and resolute, closing his eyes to briefly flirt with the shame he felt for his deceit, "We've walked together for so long Sarajin, and like many my heart still yearns for peace."
He grabbed hold of his right sleeve and started to peel it back, revealing a few fresh scars of his own making, "But it is here that our paths must branch. The way to true freedom would lead you into darkness black enough to scare a blind man..."
"But I will steel my heart against all fear, and cover these hands in blood thicker than stone if I must."
He then began to march towards the metal construct, twisting his arm so blood would ooze out of the scars.
With a haunting, cold, vengeful look in his eyes he looked down and muttered, "The Ten Sages...MUST die."
Next Time: Inheritor of Wind and Fire