Chapter
One:
Afrin's Coronation
All the guests and participants drew in around two figures: Afrin and a spiritual figure, the master of ceremonies, Allysulia-Elder-Akim. Akim raised a small sword, motioning everyone into silence. He raised his voice and started the ceremony.
"Suliantig-Patriarch-Afrin," began Elder Akim, "In the name of the High Elder and with the authority given to me by the Ten, I name you leader of the High Council of the Indosyne Union."
"Thank you, Elder Akim. I shall do my best."
Akim addressed the crowd. "Is there anyone here who disagrees with the selection of Patriarch Afrin to succeed his father, Patriarch Elephande?"
There was complete silence. Akim looked around the crowd a few times, and turned back to Afrin.
"Patriarch, your duty has been given to you. Will you take it?"
"By the guidance of Elder Higenti, I shall take it, and fulfill this duty to the utmost."
"Then go forth, Patriarch Afrin. Your command is accepted!"
The valley erupted in cheers. As if they were loaded guns, the Ten fired off a series of fireworks into the cool night air. It reminded Elephande of the celebration after they had defeated the Cladlen two hundred years earlier.
Flashback, from Victory for Elephatide:
The forests of Indosyne roared with a din of noise never equaled in all of history, as the Friendship herd and the Intyde celebrated their victory. The Cladlen had been tough, Elephande knew, and his victory was bought by many lives.
But it was victory! It was Elephande's first sweet victory, his first true victory, so much different from the one he had achieved on the plains of Frontian years earlier. Chief Alti of the Intyde had performed wonderfully in his duty, unlike High Chief Alexsen, who ran off immediately after the start of the battle.
Placing Alti as High Chief of the Intyde was one of the best decisions of Elephande's
career. He formed multiple Intyde Armies from all tribes, and they won many battles, even after his death in 2708.
Suddenly, a large flash of light erupted above the procession.
"Sorry to rain on your parade," laughed a shadowy figure that Elephande realized was a Cladlen.
Flashback, from Suliantig and Allysuntis:
The Cladlen had left their mark on the valley of his youth, and Elephande was glad that they were destroyed. Except for the last words of their general, Askinqua.
"You haven't even broken our reconnaissance mission," he laughed. Your victory is short!" he had said.
As the valley descended into a noisy chaos, the shadow disappeared. It took almost everyone by surprise, but Altoda was ready. He had found a way into the portal, and disappeared along with the shadow.
Altoda's Point of View:
I found my way onto the bridge of the Cladlen vessel unnoticed, which surprised me. At fifteen feet tall, I was hard to miss in any crowd.
Maybe they couldn't see our spirits, I wondered. A strange thought, because I had yet to meet a being that couldn't see the shadows of Frontain's warriors. Oh well, this would definitely work to my advantage.
With that thought, I decided to see what I could find out. I walked towards where I hoped the observation deck was, but instead found the guidance room for the entire fleet. I could have some fun in here! I found the controls for the ships, and saw how long it would take them to notice the collision courses, and I also wondered where the blame would fall, if I was unseen.
As if it was telepathic, a visual of the fleet popped up in front of me. I saw the forty ships, all in a rapidly closing circle that was approaching a critical diameter.
And then I realized. How was I supposed to get off? Mistakes like that were what had cost me at the battle of Graupia millennia ago. I had no choice. I reversed their directions, and went off in search of a teleporter. Maybe there was another way I could cause chaos in the Cladlen fleet. After all, because I spent many millennia under the power of the Fallen Elder, I was the supreme chaos-creator of the known universe.
As I walked on, I began to see larger numbers of Cladlen congregating. As I ran past, I could here a few snippets of conversation.
"Now that our work is almost done, we can finally be in peace."
"Besides, Degani, who told you that you would be going to the battle?"
"We will crush them, that's a certainty."
"Now that Askinqua's back, we will make them pay!"
The last thing I heard made me stop suddenly. Askinqua had fought and died at Chilaquand two centuries earlier. How could he be back?
"It is very lucky that we had that technology, otherwise he could not have been brought back to life."
