Chapter -12: The Missing Truth

There is language in words.

There is language in our voice.

There is language in the dirt, the plants, the water, the sky.

Untold tales, left undeciphered by the passing of time. Footprints vanishing into the wind, ruins further buried under the crust, possessions lost to disarray…

Memories can only last as long as the person holding them.

It is up to scholars and librarians to pass down the language of the past for the ears and eyes of the future.

For when the language of the past is lost, that is what is known as a True Death.

Stonestein, wielder of the Aegis Scarab, knows that burden all too well, for he has shouldered what many before him have with great honor.

And their patience rewarded him with the ability to glimpse the past, where the age of prosperity was at its peak, an age that now only the Titans remembered.

Their knowledge could be useful towards deciphering the journal in his hand, but it could be surmised they didn't want to remember the worst day of their life.

It has been a toll on him to comb through the library in search of even the faintest hint of the lost language the journal was written in.

His movements had to be precise and careful, for the specter of the past had yet to be identified.

His room was sealed with an impenetrable lock that could only be undone by his voice, and his walls and floor were lined with floating bright stones that kept a single shadow from slipping out.

Over the course of the past few years, he's gone through more than half the library and re-examined some of the ruins of Oreore to ensure there wasn't connective tissue there.

It has bothered him since that day that the amber ruins housed a feeling eerily similar to a Wellspring…

And what of those creatures locked in amber? They looked nothing like anything he'd ever seen. Too human to be beasts, too alive to be Rot Walkers.

And his shield needed to be there for the final trap. Would this journal answer all these questions, or simply leave him grasping for more answers…

He finally took out the half sheet of paper from behind a panel against the backside of his desk, ready to attach it to the appropriate page early into the book.

At his side was a translator's code for every letter.

The language of the journal was distinctly runic, but what separated it from the likes of ancient Oreoreian were the inclusion of semi-curved extensions on the outer edges made to look like tiny legs.

And it hadn't left his mind that he made this discovery in the "Aurian" section of the library…

His throat was tense with swallowing and he took a single deep breath to brace himself for what lay within the journal.

There was no going back now.

The first few pages were standard fare for this type of book. The owner described important events in their lives. They seemed to be someone of great importance, and a sociable man of the people.

They lived in a lively period at points, then observed tragedy at others. The words invoked were too close to describing what the artifacts lying in Oreore would look like in pristine condition…

"How old is this journal?" Provoked Stonestein's thoughts. Perhaps his earlier estimate was wrong…

It didn't take very long for the journal to take a sharp turn towards personal language, as if becoming a voice that spoke to the present…

"Whoever may happen upon this journal. Read closely, and please…Be careful."

"We had made a terrible mistake. All of us had made…a terrible mistake."

"And now we pay dearly for it. In ash, in blood…in cold, merciless death…"

"An undead specter haunts our sacred city, burning books and defiling the sacred Hive with blasphemous wails."

"It wishes to kill the past so thoroughly that there will be no future…for the Ten Sages."

"..." Stonestein's regular stoic demeanor shook a bit in the presence of familiar terminology.

Why oh why was this journal so clean on the outside, yet stained so deeply in dread inside?

"Lord Tellis almighty…The specter has had its way with three Sages already."

"Brothers and sisters of whom I feasted on sweet nectar with. Now I must cast their names from memory, lest I go insane from the nightmare."

"More books burn. Ash pillows against the walls of our city."

"There was a voice of discontent among our ranks, yet my mind fails to put a face to it…"

"As our numbers continue to dwindle, the suspect should be made more obvious yet I CANNOT RECALL THEIR FACE…!"

Stonestein felt their scream burrow in his body.

"I have no choice. Sancturia has been compromised."

"It's just me and two others at this point. Our people have not been touched, our children safe."

"What was said to provoke the specter's wrath…?"

"Or did it merely wait until enough time had passed, until our guards were down, our hearts laid ripe for picking…?"

"That cursed day…Why did we try to bury it? It was both the damnation of this world and our society."

"I am writing this from outside my home. I must flee to somewhere safer…Except…There are none who will take in an Aurian."

"I might have no choice but to create a sanctuary to call my own."

"Third day of fleeing through the wastelands…"

"Lords…I never fathomed how many of these beasts were created by that mistake."

"What were they thinking…?"

"I am slowly making my way to Oreore. At least there I will be in my element…"

"Fourth day…the specter has not yet hunted me down. By now, my two remaining brethren are likely to be slain."

"...So many books burnt."

"That thought has entered my mind multiple times."

"Books represent the past."

"The past…could it be?"

"I am writing this from the border of Oreore to whoever finds this. This needs to be remembered while it still can…Of that day. Of our greatest sin."

"Two generations ago, our people had arrived on this planet to help develop a more peaceful society."

"But this world was already prosperous."

"Someone wasn't happy with that, however…"

This was the point where the page was split in half. Stonestein steeled his mind and slid his half into the book, then went to grab a mending rune to pull it together.

As he began to turn away, the divide glowed gold, triggered by the runes in the half already in the book.

He watched as the glow spread throughout the page and merged it back together into one.

But this was an entirely new page, complete with a picture.

Ten figures with insectoid heads were arranged in a mural around a giant orb, pulsing with waves of energy.

Around them were nine robed figures of different colors. The colors aligned with their common correlation to the elements.

The text continued to open his eyes to the past.

"An experiment was to be performed by the first Ten Sages. A certain figure in their ranks, however, was manipulating events behind the scenes to unleash a great catastrophe."

"A terrible, cataclysmic…devilish…catastrophe."

The page turned on its own to reveal a new mural…

The orb, now no bigger than a period, had been cracked open like an egg.

And what rose from it was rotting, black, and depicted with ten heads.

Its wings spread over Sancturia's walls and consumed the lands, bringing the heads of the beasts of discord to rise like ooze.

Stonestein could feel himself getting sick in the stomach, and he grew notably paler, "No…this…cannot be."

"It was one of our kind that ruined this planet and made the Devil rise from the surface."

"We were taught the sinner's name and yet every time I attempt to think it, my mind speaks in a language I do not know…!"

"THE SIN STILL BREATHES."

"I know it…! It won't rest with us…It'll keep pursuing us through the generations until all records of its crime are erased!"

"But there's nothing I can do to fight it this…specter that has erased its name."

"Lord Aegisan, please guard me…"

"...I have come up with a plot. I cannot identify the specter. But my mind speaks a language I…can visualize."

"I will think in ways that will force every letter to form in this twisted language and then create a cipher from it."

"I will then write the name of every single one of the first Ten Sages in that language."

"I believe the specter is using the same name as it did back then. That's why we can't remember it."

"The Titan of Oreore has agreed to an arrangement. In exchange for helping me keep this journal safe using its Wellspring, it will siphon the energies off my Gem Drive to provide new material for its people."

"He will test future generations' strength so they'll be ready to enter the ruins."

"While my bloodline will pass down the mantle of the Aegis Scarab, along with proof that my journal exists."

"Until strength and shield can work as one, these ruins cannot be ventured into."

"Every measure is being taken to secure this evidence of the past so our people…nay, this planet, can have a future."

"May the Lords bless whoever finds this."

"Archeon."

After that there was only one written page left, containing the cipher and the ten names of the original Sages. The rest were blank.

Stonestein was shaken, but after witnessing the selfless bravery of his ancestor he knew his heart had to remain strong as well.

"So, the theories were true." He closed the book and put it away for now.

"The past haunts us."

"...Hrmm." That mural…it was hard to ignore a truth that was revealed through another's fear.

The Rot Horizon…was an Aurian's sin.

He meditated over this for a while. This…changed everything.

And this made it a topic he could no longer discuss alone.

He picked up the book, tucked it safely inside of his armor, and made his way to his friend's room.

But he was surprised to find him walking about inside of the palace, stress lines across his cheeks, and a dead weight pressing down on his eyebrows.

"Borealis," Approached Stonestein with respect to his friend's contemplative demeanor, "Am I disturbing you?"

Borealis' gaze panned away from the ceiling and towards his friend, a wistful sigh escaping his lips, "These inner walls feel so empty these days, my friend. Even these short walks to clear my head do nothing to distract me…"

Adderbolt, Torren, Carolina and Nimus never return home at night anymore.

Vermilion and Atrax may as well never be here.

Only enemies remained outside of the two of them.

Borealis itched at his forehead with his fingertips and sighed again, "Please…go ahead with what you have to say."

Stonestein gestured his hand out and began cautiously, "I have made a dire discovery."

Borealis turned with hands crossed behind him, "How dire?"

Stonestein closed his eyes and uttered, "It concerns the Rot."

Borealis' face became disturbed, but he wagged his hand out to urge him on, "Continue."

"My ruins search uncovered a journal."

"It included a message from the past."

Borealis nodded, "And what did it say?"

"...The Rot was caused…by an Aurian."

Borealis lost his gentle composure and began to sweat with cold beads down his cheek, "That…that cannot be true."

The two's eyes met, and Borealis was forced to confront how strong his bond held towards his friend, "No…you…you would never make up a story."

His throat felt dry and he turned away to swallow. He began to pace before the throne, examining the stained glass that lined the roof.

Stonestein remained a patient ally, taking time to think about the implications of this news.

Borealis steadied himself where he started but looked dizzy.

He lightly gestured his hand out and let out a hollow gasp of confusion, "Why…? Why…would our ancestors do this?"

"It appeared to be only one Sage."

"A-A Sage?"

"Whose specter still haunts us today."

Borealis looked a little choked up, and needed a moment to catch his breath. He turned around, hiding his shameful despair from his trusted friend.

"...This is too much to take in at once."

Stonestein's face sagged with disappointment, "It is too heavy to bear alone."

Borealis turned back around and struggled to keep focused on the truth, "And you are…sure that what you read is true?"

"There was a mural of the event."

"And the Devil…was birthed from Sancturia."

Borealis' eyes reflected recent events, of the terror flapping its wings, and descending from the skies violently upon them.

Stonestein confirmed their thoughts were aligned in a delicate fashion, "I wish it were someone else."

"But our prosperity was built upon sin."

Borealis held his hand against the side of his head and muttered, "No…no…this cannot be right. Our forebearers…even my very father…"

He then gestured his hand out in an act of quiet desperation, "Let me see it. This…proof of sin."

There was zero chance Borealis was the specter. The pain in his face was sincere.

Stonestein began to reach into his armor when a voice cut right in.

"A discussion out in the open? I hope you don't mind if I join." Spoke Lilith.

Stonestein withdrew his hand and watched her movements carefully. Those closed eyes were like snake fangs ready to snap at his skin.

Borealis caught her up with a hint of relief in his voice, "We were discussing a…very devastating piece of news."

"Oh?" Her smile was unleashed, "So…Lord Stonestein finally decided to reveal what he's been up to recently?"

Stonestein's face twitched. Borealis kept a natural tone about him as he replied, "Yes, that is what we are talking about."

"I'm surprised. I didn't think he'd have the courage to tell you that he's been intermingling with the savages."

Borealis' regained calm was broken as he slowly turned to his friend with a new, miniscule look of betrayal in his eyes.

Lilith popped her brows in surprise, "Oh? Did he…not…say that?"

In this confused atmosphere she struck again, "Yes, there's been multiple reported sightings of him aiding Oreore directly in engagements with other Tribes."

"I would have spoken up sooner, but I thought, as you are his friend, he'd have come forth and been honest with you."

"But, I suppose honesty is in short supply these days, tsk tsk…"

Stonestein was defying his greater urge to topple her where she stood, "You…"

But the bite had already reached its intended target. And with a simple turn, Borealis marched towards his room, "I…need a moment alone."

"Clearly…there is no place for me here right now."

With the seeds of discord sown, Lilith let out a pleased "Hmph" and turned away.

Stonestein faced her and impeded her retreat with a question, "What is your scheme now, Lilith?"

Lilith paused and peeled back part of her mask to tell him in a more blunt tongue, "Scheme? You think too much. I simply wanted to mess with you for once. I could do much worse, after all the trouble you've caused me."

She turned sideways and smiled in a sinister manner, "But…I am curious now. What WERE you talking about before I arrived?"

The timing of her intervention, the tone of her question, it felt too peculiar…too well-timed.

And yet if this was a trap, it would backfire on her.

Stonestein gestured a hand out and asked her a question, "Be truthful. You despise the past."

"Of course," Her honest voice came to light for his ears alone, "The teachings of the past have turned our race into little more than obedient sheep."

"Duty, destiny…It's a wonder you can even think for yourselves when these voices whisper in your ears."

Stonestein shook his head, "My decisions are of my own making."

"Really?" Her face contorted with disgust, her voice deepening with bile in her throat, "Luc-ky you…"

"The choices of those in the past wrapped that freedom up for you in a silver bow. But what about those who are dissatisfied with their lot in life? Hmmm?"

"A weak excuse," Stonestein said with a firm expression, "Your way shall never be right."

"It will," Lilith asserted with her eyes briefly widening open with cold, piercing cruelty, "Once all dissenters are dead."

They were in an unspoken agreement that further arguing was a waste of time. So as she tried to leave, Stonestein only had one more question to force upon her.

"Do you recognize the name Archeon?"

"No, why?" Her response was instantaneous and confused towards him in a mocking fashion.

He was surprised. He had pegged her as the specter. There is little chance that even they would be so stoic towards that name.

But if it wasn't her…then who?

He closed his eyes and begrudgingly let her go with one last remark, "I suppose it does not matter."

"No. No, nothing you do does." She left with her spirits high and smug.

"Hrrmmm…" Stonestein paused to collect his thoughts, and then ventured towards his friend's room.

The door was left ajar, and he went inside.

Borealis hung over his cauldron with both hands on the rim. His hunched back pulsed with labored breathing.

They were no longer young men who dreamed.

The time for those days left them in a wake of dust, disappointment, and heartache.

"Borealis…" Stonestein uttered quietly as he shut the door behind him.

Borealis rose, his demeanor somber, his tone weighed with feelings of confusion and betrayal.

"When were you planning on telling me?" He asked.

Stonestein closed his eyes and said what he only could surmise as his truth, "Someday."

Borealis turned and his tone reverberated with anguish, "When?!"

He gasped for an answer, bearing a grudge that refused to vanish within…

Stonestein's eyebrows knew no greater weight of sorrow now, "When it would not bring you pain."

Borealis held himself back, clutching his hand against his chest and pulling aside.

Stonestein looked at him and said, "My mistakes do not change my words."

Borealis turned and roared, "How else am I supposed to interpret your actions now?! You've chosen to sympathize with those…savages! Have you forgotten what they've done to each other? To us?!"

Stonestein stood firm and did not not let his emotions guide his voice, "Listen to yourself, Borealis."

"After those 'savages' fought the Devil…"

"Fought…to protect OUR home…"

"Why let yourself be blind to change…?"

Borealis was silent, Stonestein swallowing hard as he reached out to him, "Is this still because of-"

"Yes it's because of her…!" Borealis cried out in melancholic pain, "I wanted so much…to be able to love this world as she did. To forgive its flaws, and let its beauty win out over my disgust…"

"But look at the shape of the world. It's warped beyond repair…! Even if…our ancestors caused this mess, can you dare look me in the eyes, after witnessing humanity in so many shapes, and tell me that they wouldn't have caused this devastation themselves one day?!"

Stonestein dared. His brazen daring of his friend's stubborn clinging to his beliefs led him to take a deep, deep breath, and speak whatever his mind had to say.

"I have been a loyal friend to you for many years, Borealis. Not out of obligation, or because I was told…Because every time I look into your eyes, the kindest of souls looks at me back."

"But so much kindness has left you vulnerable to the slightest acts of pain and sorrow."

"When Sivilis was on her deathbed, did she not tell you to live life to the fullest without her?"

Borealis curled his hand against his heart and was aghast with pain, "Don't repeat her words to me, I was there when they were uttered…"

"You need to hear them. Again, and again, and again. Because she NEVER…wanted you to become this secluded, scared man."

"She believed you'd carry on with forgiveness and kindness in your every action, and even now, I STILL choose to believe in those parts of you."

"Humanity will make mistakes. So will we."

"But if we continue to ignore this simple fact, THAT'S when nothing will change."

"Perfection is impossible. But we can strive to be the best we can hope to be."

"That is the creed that has guided Sarajin Stratos this far. It's his path that has opened up this opportunity for the world to break free from the cycle of war and hate."

"So please Borealis, I urge you…Not as your shield, not as a Sage…but as a friend. Be willing to open your heart to those outside your walls."

Borealis' brows hung with a pitiful cry from him, "You don't understand how much it hurts to let yourself be vulnerable to others."

Stonestein crossed his arms and nodded, "...I don't. And perhaps…that has always been my greatest failure as your friend."

He coughed a few times and then turned away, his throat feeling parched, "I just want…you to think it over."

He started to leave the room, when Borealis reached out with urgency, "Wait…"

Stonestein looked over his shoulder.

"May I…still see the journal?"

Stonestein walked over and let him have a look at it. Borealis flipped through all the information Stonestein parsed in a matter of seconds, his eyes freezing on the two murals.

He then passed the journal back, and went silent.

And for the next few days…he was silent.

His feet did not make a sound. His bones did not creak.

It was a man alone in his thoughts, facing the truth of his entire history coming down upon him all at once.

Put a "+" or "-" on this equation, divide the facts, craft formulas, every way he could tackle this bore no answer that satisfied who he still wanted to be…

He began to feel dizzy, the lack of food or water lately was starting to get the better of him.

After a light meal he made with alchemy, he leaned his elbow against his cauldron and scratched at his head.

Deep sighs filled the air, loneliness crept into his heart.

He took out his trinket and gazed at a reflection of himself in it, his wife cuddling next to him as he struck his gaze towards the stars above.

"Haaa…What would you have done…had you been in my shoes?"

Then came a knock on the door, one of gentle hesitation.

Today, this felt inviting, and he welcomed the chance for company.

"Come in…" He murmured, and as the door gave way to his visitor he was left stunned.

"Sarajin…" He said, taken aback.

This humble man and himself got into a brief staring contest, reflecting upon the echoes of yells and insults they have thrown each other's way over the years.

It was Sarajin who exchanged the first greeting, "How are you doing, Borealis?"

"...I have…known better days."

Sarajin rubbed the back of his head and remarked, "It must have been tough fending off the Devil's attacks by yourself."

"Huh? Oh…right," Borealis paid him better attention and gestured his hand out, "I…should thank you for aiding my daughter in defeating the beast."

"I wish we could've put it down for good."

"If only it were so easy to wipe clean the slate of sin…" Borealis muttered while rubbing his chin.

He held his hand there and took a glance over at his company. Sarajin had a specific twinge of regret in his eyes, and extended his hand towards him to say, "I…need to apologize for our last meeting. What I said was out of line, and-"

Borealis tucked his hands behind his back and let out a deep sigh, "It's all in the past. I was wrong to forcibly summon you here to begin with."

Sarajin shook his head, "No. That's no excuse for my behavior."

"Perhaps alone. But…I feel as though my offenses towards you have mounted plenty over the years."

Sarajin held a brief look of surprise and then remarked, "Borealis…I…"

"You've come here for a reason. Or perhaps…there is a reason I require you to be here now," Borealis hung his hands and relaxed, "If you'll let me ask you one question, I will hear out whatever you need to say."

Sarajin's eyes widened and he gave him a simple gesture in return, "It's not much. I just…wanted to see if you might be willing to talk about peace between the Tribes again."

Borealis narrowed his gaze, weighing it down with a hint of scorn. But that intensity withdrew as he remarked, "Go on."

"The Tribe's are in better shape these days than they used to be. I can't…promise that some of them won't regress in the future, but right now I'm working on making the conditions for each Tribe the best they can be alongside all the leaders and my friends."

"I see…and has my friend also been helping you along in your endeavors?"

"Stonestein? Y-Yeah…He helped defend Oreore from an attack a few years ago."

Borealis' eyebrows sank, and with a deep sigh he began to pace around the room, "Your eyes…they're sharper than they've ever been."

He turned and let out a heavy, melancholic sound, "I almost envy them now."

Sarajin put a hand over his chest and looked down, "I was in a bad place mentally back then. And I have no one to blame but myself for letting that happen."

Borealis cracked a tiny smile, "You are only human after all."

"Yeah…" Sarajin murmured. Then after a short pause, he looked up at Borealis with a blank expression of surprise.

The wise man stood forward and tucked his hands behind him, "I…require some more time to myself. But when I am ready…I will consider having a longer conversation with you about the state of the world."

"S-Sure, I don't want to pressure you into it." Sarajin replied.

"Now…for my question," Borealis scratched the side of his face and was slow to speak henceforth, "Would you ever repent for the sins of your ancestors?"

"Huh, I don't know. I only know about the things my dad did."

Borealis widened his eyes, "Your father committed a sin?"

"In hindsight, it wasn't the worst thing in the world. But at the time, I never wanted to trust anything he had ever said to me."

"...I see," Borealis gestured one hand out and wondered, "And…did you ever forgive him?"

Sarajin smiled, "Eventually."

"I suppose I don't understand how you could ever forgive someone's transgressions, even when they're of your blood."

"Maybe I'm just speaking from my heart, but if you dislike what your ancestors did…Then you should just try to live your life being a better person than them, instead of letting them weigh you down."

Borealis tucked his hands back and remarked, "Your heart speaks wise words, Sarajin…Thank you."

Sarajin had the look of someone who wanted to pry further, but instead waved his hand and made his way back to the door with a smile, "I'll see you later, Borealis."

"Indeed we shall…" When the door shut, Borealis repeated himself in a quieter, somber tone, "Indeed…we shall."

Sarajin made his way out of the palace with his head held high and ran into Justek.

"Ah, Sarajin," He remarked, "You seem to be feeling well today."

Sarajin smiled brighter than ever as he told him, "It's almost time, Justek. I'm going to finally fulfill our promise."

Justek's expression hardly changed as he remarked, "That's wonderful news. To change the topic though, I was wondering…Are you and Solomon going to be doing a mission for the 'higher-ups' soon?"

"Huh?" Sarajin blinked a few times, "Yeah, actually, we're going to need to handle a difficult 'Blank' problem five days from now, why?"

"Ah, good, I just didn't want you to be gone six days out."

"Really?"

"It'll be a surprise." Justek smiled and nudged his glasses.

"Well," Sarajin patted him on the shoulder and energetically made his way out of the palace, "I look forward to seeing it!"

When he was out of sight, Justek's lens fogged up, and his smile turned somewhat sinister, "So, the date is set…"

He let go of his glasses, his pupils draconic and irises full of fire, "Let's begin the end of this sordid tale…"

Next Time: A Dance with Vengeance