Chapter 2: A Doomed Future
This certainly wasn't how she expected her day to go, but she loved how unexpected it all was. It wasn't every day that a visitor from the future appeared in front of you, after all. She wanted to hear everything—as if eager to find out the ending to a good story. It seemed she wasn't the only one either for both Hythlodaeus and Emet-Selch were hanging onto each word that was being exchanged—though they still seemed skeptical about the possibility that their new friend was from another time.
"Now then," Venat said while placing her hand on the girl's shoulder in a consoling way, "How about you start off by telling me your name? You know who we are, already. I can tell."
"Ah… Claire," she mumbled shyly. "My name is Claire Faye."
"Claire…" she repeated softly before nodding at the unusual, but pretty, name. "I will remember it."
She was so eager to head back to Poleten Oikos that she almost forgotten about the matter that drew her out here to begin with. For a moment she entertained the idea of just forgetting about it, but suddenly the promise she made before came back and she had to hold back the disappointment that rose up inside her. She informed the others of this problem, and Hythlodaeus was kind enough to offer to help her track it down through following its aetherial trail. She agreed eagerly to that, wanting to get it all over with as quickly as possible; promising that she would follow behind to scour the forest floor just in case.
She also asked Claire if she would be willing to lend a hand with the search, who agreed silently and caused Venat to beam happily.
"Many thanks! There's a small bridge leading into Poleten Oikos—let us meet up there once we've exhausted our efforts," she said happily and saw her off with a smile. Emet-Selch's face seemed to be turning purple as he tried to keep himself from yelling. Something that Hythlodaeus also noticed once he gave Claire a friendly wave off as well before leading them in another direction, following the trail of the oreias. It was clear to both of them that their brooding friend was not happy in the least.
"Now what seems to be the problem, Emet-Selch?" she asked him calmly. "We're having a nice walk in nature but you don't seem to be enjoying it at all?"
"Is it wise to let it wander off on its own?" Emet-Selch hissed. "You were the one who informed us that it came from the future, which I still find hard to believe, and you are letting it out of your sights? What if it runs for it?"
"Oh, I doubt that she will get far if she does," Hythlodaeus reminded him, gently correcting him as well. "We can easily track her down if she were to try. But I have a feeling that she will not be attempting to leave Elpis until she finds what she came here for."
"Where did you find her?" she whispered to Hythlodaeus curiously.
"At the Propylaion," he whispered back. "We had just arrived ourselves when Emet-Selch and I noticed her soul… it was so faded out though that we couldn't see or hear her properly. Mayhap it came from whatever magicks that brought her here? Anyway, it wasn't until Emet-Selch gave her some aether to give her a more solid form could we really see her properly. She said she was here to look for Hermes and so I invited her to come along with us, though she couldn't really tell us more than that."
"So you don't know why she's here?" she pressed.
"No, we're here for business for the Convocation and went to speak with Hermes about his possible candidacy for the next Fandaniel," he answered thoughtfully. "Up until you arrived she hadn't said anything about the future, herself, or… or anything else that she's here for actually. Just that she needed to speak with Hermes about something important. Hasn't caused anyone any trouble from what I've seen—in fact everyone seems charmed with her. Though Emet-Selch didn't seem all that concerned until now."
They both looked back to see that Emet-Selch was now glaring furiously at the pair of them.
"I told you that we should have just left it in its feeble state," he retorted.
"Now, now, we couldn't do that," Hythlodaeus reminded him kindly.
"What is your opinion on her?" she asked him curiously. "From what you've seen so far?"
"She seems sweet enough," Hythlodaeus answered truthfully. "Curious little thing. At first I thought that she was one of Azem's creations, but—I guess not. Not as outgoing or—I guess the word I'm looking for is impulsive? Then again, we only knew this one for a couple days so it may still be too early to judge. She's already helped quite a few number of researchers, observers, and even visitors while she's been here. Just like how Azem does. Hermes and Meteion especially seem to like her. Not only that but she's very easy to talk to. I can't help but find myself spilling all sorts of secrets when I was talking with her."
"What sort of secrets?" Emet-Selch questioned suspiciously.
"She seems fascinated with everything the world has here. She's been driving Emet-Selch up the wall though," Hythlodaeus added with a smile, as if he hadn't heard a word that Emet-Selch said. "Almost literally too. He jumps every single time she heads off. Almost as if he's about to tell her off for wandering where there could be dangers. I guess this brings back many fond memories for you, Emet-Selch?"
"And you sound as if you already decided that you would take her home with us if you could," he retorted.
"I'm sure that it was no easy feat to come here," Venat stated softly to herself. "Nor can we say how far in the future that she hails from. But for her to journey so far as to come onto the past… one cannot help but worry."
Whatever was happening, it couldn't be good. Just what was waiting for them?
She tried not to focus upon that as she continued her search for the oreias, and though they were able to find the fluffy creature, the crystal it stole was nowhere near it. Disappointed they returned to the bridge to wait for their remaining companion.
Despite the fact they were only waiting for a short time, Emet-Selch became convinced that she had made a run for it… but there was no need to worry. Venat suddenly spotted her coming out from some trees and greeted her warmly as she approached them smelling of fresh grass and earth.
"Our last searcher returns," she said, glad Claire found them but honestly not expecting her to have had any luck. "I am afraid the oreias no longer had the crystal, nor was I able to find it as I followed in its wake. I don't suppose you fared any better…?"
But to her surprise, Claire pulled out the slightly battered crystal from the bag at her side and Venat's eyes lit up.
"The crystal! Well done!" she said happily as she took it from here and gazed at it in relief. "Now I can focus on your tale without that missing concept nagging at my mind. Have you always had a knack for finding things?"
"I've had experience hunting down crystals," she reassured her. "Travelling and searching go hand in hand."
"You travel often, then?" Venat asked in interest. This girl was becoming more and more thought-provoking with each minute! "It seems we have something in common. Long ago, when I held the seat of Azem, I was forever trekking back and forth across the star in search of answers to people's problems. Naturally, the need for such journeys have lessened considerably since I entrusted the position to my whimsical successor… yet I am still eager to come running should an old acquaintance or new interest require my personal attention. That is what brings me to Elpis, in fact."
She then surprised the girl by looping her arm with hers and began to lead her away from the bridge and towards one of the structures as she babbled on happily.
"Many times has my presence been requested, my opinions sought concerning the habitat of this or that creation. Agreeing to help locate that missing crystal was a minor distraction… which now promises to become a major revelation! How strange and wonderful it is the way one things leads to another," she chirped, "Wouldn't you agree?"
Claire looked a little started at the questions and only nodded to what she was saying. Poor thing was obviously overwhelmed. Venat knew that it was a bad habit of hers to push such matters, she would have to work on that, but she also hoped that would take her mind off whatever it was that seemed to be plaguing the girl's mind—if only for a moment. The men behind her were also kind of taken aback from her sudden departure and hurried after them as she led them to the main building.
Venat made sure to tuck the crystal aside for later before she welcomed them to her temporary abode and busied herself with making some tea for them.
She bid them to make themselves at home, and ushered them inside. Claire quietly thanked her and took a seat at the table, waiting patiently.
"Behave, Emet-Selch," she heard Hythlodaeus whisper softly behind her as they also entered. "I'm sure that she's already having a hard enough time without us making it worse. Don't try to bully her or I shall be forced to speak of some embarrassing stories about yourself in retaliation."
Venat looked back in time to catch Emet-Selch rolling his eyes as he marched over and took a seat directly opposite of Claire and seemed keen on glaring at her until she answered all his questions.
Venat and Hythlodaeus just shared a look, and he merely smiled with a shrug as if to ask 'what can you do?' and he took a seat next to Emet-Selch—ready to jump in as the peacemaker should something happen. Venat merely returned to making tea with a slight chuckle, wishing that she had more to offer her guests. But hopefully this will be enough to relax everyone. It only took her a few minutes, but once she finished, she set the cups in front of them all before she took her seat as well, directly next to Claire.
There was a rather awkward silence between them. Then, Hythlodaeus took a deep breath and complimented, "A wonderful aroma… I feel more relaxed already."
Leave it to him to break the ice.
"Would that I had sweetmeats to offer, but I travel light out of habit," Venat explained comfortably. She then added to Claire, "There's plenty of hot water, though, so please have as much tea as you like."
"Thank you," the girl said again in that soft voice, but she didn't touch the cup. It was then that Venat noticed the darker shadows around her eyes and how the bones in her face seemed to stand out slightly. It looked like she hadn't had much food or sleep for days…? Did the boys not notice? Emet-Selch she could understand… but Hythlodaeus?
She decided not to push the matter though as her curiosity got the better of her.
"Now then… will you tell us your tale?" she asked her, deciding not to delay any longer.
Claire looked away from her and seemed to be staring into the tea as if hoping to find a way to find any other answer. But finally she spoke up and said, "A calamity called the Final Days has befallen the world."
She said this in a very grim and serious tone—but one without any hesitation or doubt. Venat felt herself frown at such words. The Final Days? Ominous to say the least. There was a sense of grimness in the air as everyone seemed to tense up. Emet-Selch folded his arms and added, in a slightly kinder tone than he had been using with her before now, "Why don't you start from the beginning?"
The girl lowered her head and muttered, "I know… I just… don't know where the beginning starts anymore."
She was silent for a few seconds before she finally began with her own tale. How in the far off future, thousands of years from now, she lived in a world that had long since been sundered into the Source and thirteen reflections. And apparently it had been Venat, herself, who did this when she became the god-like being of Hydaelyn. Which apparently happened when the first 'Final Days', a calamitous event involving wild creation magicks, befell their world in the not so distant future for them. No one knew what it was that caused these events, but it caused the skies to burn, and the peoples' creation magicks ran wild until they manifested their fear into monstrosities that the people of Claire's time called blasphemies.
From what they were able to learn of the Emet-Selch of the future, not even the Convocation could discover exactly what it was that led up to the Final Days, save for they deemed the phenomenon stagnated aether within the currents of Etheirys, causing it to rot and decay from the inside. Something that Hermes—who chose to become Fandaniel—had discovered.
In the end, there was little that could be done and the world was on the brink of death and destruction. But at the last moment, the Convocation believed the summoning of a vastly powerful creation, a primal as she called it, that they called Zodiark, would reinstate the aether flow. While the summoning required sacrificing half of Etheirys's populace, Zodiark restored the world with his existence, halting the Final Days.
But that still left the problem of Zodiark.
For though he succeeded in halting the end, their people, or the Ancients that Claire called them, were planning more sacrifices to restore their fallen people who gave themselves to Zodiark to bring him forth in the first place. This spurred Venat to not only go against the Convocation but to also become Hydaelyn, who then imprisoned Zodiark in a moon that she created to serve as his prison. This was done because Hydaelyn knew Zodiark was essential for the star's survival, as his destruction would continue with the Final Days. Hydaelyn had defeated Zodiark, but when the final blow was dealt, the world was sundered into the Source and its reflections in the aftermath. Hydaelyn set up contingency plans to evacuate the Source's residents should the Final Days resume in the form of fluffy little creatures upon this moon to shape it into a vessel to carry as many people to safety.
As she listened to this, Venat was shocked to learn that she was capable of doing such a thing. Why would she go against the Convocation? Yet, if all the people, from that moment on were sundered beings… that would explained why Claire's soul was so… incomplete. At least, compared to the rest of them.
But Claire went on, explaining that out of everyone, only three escaped the Sundering—Lahabrea, Elidibus, and Emet-Selch. At the sound of his name, they all looked to the current Emet-Selch, who suddenly became hunched over in his seat but he did not interrupt.
Claire went on to explain that the unsundered would raise up the fragmented souls of the other convocation members and so far had managed to rejoin the world seven times. They had just barely been able to avoid an eighth time… where Emet-Selch, who had spent a thousand, thousand lives working towards the rejoining… invited her to his recreated version of Amaurot upon the First shard at the bottom of the ocean.
Claire only continued to look ever more deeply uncomfortable as she told them more about this future Emet-Selch… and just listening to the tale was enough to cause pale expressions all around. To hear what the Convocation would be reduced to? To hear the madness that seemed to seep from their very beings? To they who once loved this world with all their beings?
Claire also explained what would become of Lahabrea as well as several other of the incarnations of the Convocation members. As well as… the fate of Emet-Selch. It seemed that after she was joined with another shard of their shared sundered soul, the fragment of the First, to stabilize an abundance of light so that they would be able to battle with the future version of Emet-Selch. Afterwards, the dying Emet-Selch spoke his final words to remember them before returning to the Star.
After putting a stop to the eighth calamity, she and her group of friends—these Scions of the Seventh Dawn—were able to return to the Source and continued their war effort against this Garlean Empire—a kind of project left behind by Emet-Selch. It was here they encountered another former Convocation member, Fandaniel, whom not only was incarnation of the same Hermes as the here and now, but he also had the intention of bring about the second Final Days to end the world. To achieve this, he erected several towers across the world to gather aether and transmit it to the main tower to try and release Zodiark from his prison. Despite their attempts to stop him, Fandaniel managed to make it to the moon and fuse himself with Zodiark. Claire had to chase him to the moon, and they battled with each other… where he destroyed the sundered and weakened Zodiark, and thus set events in motion to resume the Final Days.
So now their world was on the brink of ending, with the only option to flee it entirely using the moon that Venat created to guide the people to a new star. But not willing to give up yet, Claire came here because Venat, as Hydaelyn, had previously given her an Elpis flower, informing her that it will serve as a guide of sorts. After learning its name, she was able to travel back in time to them with the help of the defeated Elidibus to find a way to save their star.
Claire talked for hours… until finally her voice gave out when she explained how Elidibus had originally sacrificed himself to become Zodiark's heart and how he was able to send her back through the use of a tower of crystal.
They all remained silent as they let it all sink in—almost in a state of shock from this dreaded future waiting for them all. Venat's eyes grew sad as her heart felt like it was breaking apart. Did she truly create a world of such suffering? Of death? Why? Why would she do such a thing? And Hythlodaeus? Sacrificed himself to Zodiark? Their Azem being caught up in the sundering and now…? Emet-Selch? She didn't want to believe it. Could not believe it… yet, she could not find it in her to believe that Claire was lying either. Her voice seemed to ring out with truth…? Could it be that…?
"Preposterous," Emet-Selch snapped out at last, speaking for the first time since they sat down, "Utterly preposterous."
"While not the words I would have chosen, I too have my doubts," Hythlodaeus stated slowly, but was very thoughtful of his words; meaning that he was not dismissing them outright. Mayhaps he could sense the truth in Claire's words as she could? Or mayhaps he was thinking more hypothetically? Either way, he asked for Venat's opinion… which there was no way she could ever give a simple answer.
She looked up and stated honestly, "Not knowing the precise details of the first Final Days, 'tis difficult to determine the veracity of the tale. Supposing it is all true, I must ask myself why I would do what I did."
She then became thoughtful as she tried to think of what could cause her to turn against the Convocation? What would be dire enough for her to go against her former friends and colleagues? What reason would justify it all?
"Why would I feel I had no recourse but to oppose the Fourteen and create this Hydaelyn…" she muttered to herself, truly baffled by her own actions. "Circumstances change, of course, but it would not have been an easy decision regardless." She shook her head and looked up in determination as she added firmly, "No, there must have been a reason. One compelling enough to force me to take such drastic measures."
She then looked back to Claire and clarified, "Then there is the Elpis flower, which I said would serve as a guide. That it's of import to your mission is plain, but your presence here leads me to believe that this place also holds significance." Venat then became thoughtful again and asked herself more than the others, "But what could it be? What are we meant to accomplish?"
"Might it not be simply thus?" Hythlodaeus suggested. "In the future whence she came, the Final Days could not be averted. Mankind has no choice but to flee the star. By alerting us to that eventuality, perhaps you wished to pave the way for other futures."
Yes, she would not dismiss that thought. But then how would that ensure that their new friend ended up travelling back in time?
"Theoretically speaking, it is a possibility," Venat agreed slowly, but not convinced that they touched upon the right lead. "Yet if that were my primary objective, I see no reason to guide our friend to Elpis specifically. The Capitol in Amaurot, or even my own home would be more logical destinations."
Hythlodaeus nodded in agreement. "True, true… I note also that Hydaelyn did not specify a point in time to which she must return. By this, it may be inferred that it was not critical that we should meet."
No, but, if they had gone through all this before, then she must have had a reason to send her back to Elpis at this exact time? Was it possible that the events that would lead up to the Final Days were to begin soon? Were they to begin at this very place?
"Alternately, She had reason to believe that our paths would converge, coincidental thought it may seem," Venat added, not liking where her thoughts were going at this moment.
"Hmmm," Hythlodaeus mused with a pout and folded his arms thoughtfully. "This is quite a puzzle, and we do not have all the pieces…"
"Hardly any," Venat stated, now suddenly vexed at her future self for being so cryptic with her answers. "But we do have one immutable fact. If the Final Days are indeed as described, they will bring death to all that I hold dear. Yet despite being afforded long years of preparation, the only provisions I could make were… for flight?"
That didn't sound like her at all. It almost sounded like she was giving up? Why would she give up on the Star and the people that she loved so dearly? Especially with the other reflections all but doomed to be left behind and die?
No. This was not something that she would do. She would not give up that easily no matter how many centuries would pass.
"Nay," Venat said firmly, her eyes meeting with Claire's once more. "My first and foremost endeavor would be to find a way to forestall the coming doom."
"Given that even the Fourteen failed, mayhap you deemed it impossible," Hythlodaeus offered uncertainly.
That seemed even less likely to her than the fact that the girl sitting beside her came from the future.
"Nothing is impossible," she said firmly. "This, I have always believed. And if Hydaelyn is indeed me, She would believe the same."
Emet-Selch seemed to have had as much as he could stand and spoke up with barely concealed anger.
"Listen to yourself," he sneered. "Are you seriously entertaining the notion that you are a messianic figure in some far-fetched tale?"
They all looked to him as he kept his head down.
"Well, I will not," he said firmly. "I refuse to accept that our world could be undone by some unforeseen calamity. I also take offense to my portrayal as a megalomaniacal madman. To sacrifice oneself for the star is a noble act, and I would hold those who gave themselves to this Zodiark in the highest esteem."
Venat saw how his hands began to tremble and he folded them together to try and control it.
"Yet you claim I recreated Amaurot and populated it with phantoms of our people. A bizarre indulgence that would be insulting to their memory. Worse still, I even invited you there—literally invited my own downfall," he asked, "Why would I do something so idiotic and inexplicable?"
Was it really that hard to understand? No one could go through a thousand lives like he apparently had done and not break at some point? She wanted to say something though to comfort him but he finally sat up straight again and gave Claire such a vicious glare that Venat feared that he would attack her.
"Now," he said, in a voice of forced calm. "I will allow that the hypothetical task of restoring our world would be daunting in the extreme. The thought of having to bear such a burden for a thousand thousand lives horrifies me."
His eyes misted over with pain at just the thought as he vowed, "But I would never forsake my duty! I would never forsake my brethren!"
The weight of what he heard seemed to be bearing down on him as he leaned over the table, looking like he was trying to steady himself.
"You do not know me!" he finally declared with a finality that he was trying to force himself to believe. "I've had my fill of your fiction. I will return to my duty…" and he slammed his hands on the table before standing up. Venat readied herself to step in should he go any further, but he just glared at Claire with a burning animosity as he snarled, "…and you will not bother me again."
He gave her one last vile look before he spun on his heel and marched out the door. Hythlodaeus leapt up and went running after his friend, calling his name as he tried to calm him down.
Claire didn't say anything or even bother to try and stop him. She just looked… so sad. Venat watched her for a time before asking, "You've seen much of Elpis already. If you have any observations to share, I should like to hear them."
Claire closed her eyes for a moment before speaking, "Dynamis is key to all of this."
Ah, that is a rare topic she doesn't hear every day.
"Ah yes, the energy distinct from aether," she said as Claire looked at her in surprise. "Though not my field, I have a basic understanding of dynamis. And you say Hermes researched the phenomenon in the course of creating Meteion… yes, I believe this warrants further investigation."
It seemed that whatever it was that triggered these Final Days… Hermes and Meteion seem to be at the center for it all. If so, then they will discover what it is. Venat then smiled, feeling better with a plan forming in her mind. Action always did suit her better than sitting around speculating.
"With that settled, 'tis time for action," she told her as she stood up. "The missing pieces of the puzzle are here, I'm certain of it. And when you find them, the picture my future self has painted will be complete, and you will have your answer."
It was so strange. Venat barely knew anything about this girl and the story she told sounded too unbelievable to be true. Yet, when she looked at her… she found that she believed every word she said. She couldn't explain it… but after seeing the extra care that went into creating her magicks placed upon her… she knew this girl was special to her—or maybe rather will become special to her. She just felt very protective over her and wanted to do whatever it took to help… and if she could, she would find a way to prevent this calamity from ever happening.
"Suffice it to say I will aid you in your quest," Venat promised her.
Claire nodded and some of the dread seemed to leave her face at that, but then she slowly turned to look at the barely drunk cup that had been in front of Emet-Selch. She didn't say a word but Venat didn't need her too. She understood just what she was worried about now.
"Have faith," Venat reassured her gently, "If Emet-Selch is the man Azem described to me, we've not seen the last of him."
At that, a shadow of a smile appeared on Claire's face.
Venat smiled back as she sat back down and took her hand gently in her own, and asked for some more information—just to find out everything that she had discovered so far.
So Claire talked for a time longer, explaining how she was able to arrive here thanks to Elidibus's help and how Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus had been able to discover her, though no one else could. That did not surprise her, for she knew how gifted they were in soul-sight. They must have been able to make out just even the thinnest of shades of her soul before they realized what was going on. She doubted that anyone less gifted than they with their eyes would never have been able to find her. She couldn't help but wonder if she could have done so while in such a weakened state.
That caused her to start thinking again… mayhaps her future self was aware of this and that was why they chose this moment…? Where Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus happened to arrive at the same time that she did? Though that still didn't explain why she would point the way to Elpis of all places?
Claire told her what she knew so far of Hermes and what she thought of him, and how she could not believe that such a kind and compassionate man would ever become the same Fandaniel from her time…?
Venat nodded and listened to her concerns, also finding herself completely at a loss to what could have happened. Then again, it wasn't exactly the same Fandaniel… rather an incarnation of a shard. Surely he would have been a different person, though there may still exist a tiny trace of the original self…?
Something must have happened to him… something had to cause him to want to give up on life. Both here and his future incarnation.
Claire also mentioned her friend from the future, this Nidhana, and her theory of dynamis—what they referred to as Akasa. It certainly sounded very similar to dynamis, so it didn't cause her to think that there could be two separate forces at work here. It seemed that, if Nidhana was right, then some kind of chain reaction of a powerful burst of dynamis may have been the cause of the Final Days. It makes sense as well in the fact that so few knew of dynamis and that even those who are aware know precious little. The more she heard, the more that she suspects that dynamis may be the key to all this.
Though that leaves the question to how does Hermes and Meteion connect to all this?
She did not know.
But she sat there and listened to Claire for some time as she did her best to explain what she had discovered…?
"Yet… it feels… as if I'm wandering around in the dark," she confessed grimly, and Venat felt her hand shake and turn clammy. "I know that I'm here for a reason. That I'm meant to find something… but I don't even know what I'm supposed to be looking for."
"Was there anything else that Hydaelyn… that I… told you?" she asked softly. "Anything? Any clues at all that you can think of or may have overlooked…?"
Claire shook her head.
"I don't know," she whispered back. "If there were, I cannot think of them. The last time that I was able to speak to her face-to-face… she said… finding joy in darkness. I'm still struggling to understand. But all she could tell me about the flower was that it will be my guide. I just don't know."
She was trembling slightly at this and Venat felt concern rise.
"I don't know where to go from here! I had been searching for days! But so far I found nothing that has led me to the answers I need!" she whimpered and Venat could see she was valiantly trying to keep her emotions locked up inside but her eyes were watering up as she could feel the fear and stress radiating off her as if it were heat.
Venat frowned at that and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She knew that she was fond of tricks and games… but this all seemed so cruel to someone so young. Seeing how lost she was here… it broke her heart. She seemed… so tired. How long had she been forced to walk down such a path? Especially since she suspected that there was much and more that she was not telling her about her role in all this?
Claire was able to hold everything together as she squeezed her hand back tightly, as if she needed to have physical touch as a way to keep her grounded.
Venat just smiled at her reassuringly before looking up to the solidarity window and saw how dark it had become. There would be little point in going out now when most of the researchers were bound to be returning to their quarters by now.
"Come," she told her. "You should get some rest. We will begin our search when the sun rises."
She helped her up and led her to a small room off to the side. It was of the most basic of necessities such as a bed, table, lamp… and the like. But she led her directly to the bed and told her to rest here—not telling her that she was giving up her own bed for her.
Claire didn't question it though as she collapsed onto the soft bed and was out in mere moments. Venat chuckled slightly at that as she carefully tucked a warm blanket around her. Once she was safely tucked in, she held up a hand to the girl's face—barely even brushing against her skin as a soft, soothing light sparkled at the end of her fingertips. Claire let out a contented sigh as the spell promised a sweet dream. Hopefully, she could be spared the crushing pressure of the Final Days for at least a few bells.
It wasn't much, but the least she could do was ensure that she was comfortable while she was here. How long had it been since she last had a moment of respite? She didn't know… and it caused her no small amount of worry. Seeing her like this, she looked so much younger—as a child who had suffered a frightening experience. She seemed too fragile at that moment and the idea that she was forced to carry such a terrible burden? Why was she being asked to live up to such impossible standards?
Why would Hydaelyn—herself—demand such?
She smiled down at the girl's peaceful expression before gently brushing her bangs out of her face, her eyes finding the Traveler's Ward still upon her. So bright… so much care went into it… she clearly went all out on creating this. One of a kind… almost.
There was only one other time she cast that spell and it got her to thinking…?
She then heard the door opening to the main hall and she went to go and check, tip-toeing out of the room. She had suspected that it was one of the other researchers or even the same friend coming to check on her progress with her work—but to her surprise it was neither of them.
"Hythlodaeus?" she whispered as the lilac-haired man turned to give her a weary smile.
"Sorry for interrupting you," he said as she quickly stepped out of the bedroom and closed it quietly as to not awaken their new friend.
"Not at all," she reassured him. "I was just getting ready to clean up. How are you? And…?"
She looked around the room but Hythlodaeus stated, "He's not here. Said he wished to be alone. I thought better than trying to fight him on it."
"Truly? I would have thought that he would need your presence now more than ever?" she reasoned as she went to the cups on the table and snapped her fingers to watch the tea, now cold, disappear from them. Hardly anyone drank any of it.
"I will," he promised. "And I was for a time. But for right now, he just needs a little while to calm himself before he can think rationally. I'll return soon though, it won't take him long to be able to think things over. Something that me and Azem learned long ago. Usually if you just leave him be with such matters he'll be more willing to talk them over later on."
"I see," Venat said with a fondness in her voice as she thought of Azem and how she would sing praises of her friends. "I believe Azem said something to that affect once or twice."
They both chuckled as Hythlodaeus looked to the door that Venat had come out and asked, "How is she?"
"Exhausted and I urged her to rest for now," she said sadly as she gathered up the cups. "She's pushing herself much harder than one should."
"I can believe that," Hythlodaeus who came over to help her clean up. "I remember worrying that we were pushing her due to her lack of aether. But it seems that I was underestimating the burdens she was carrying."
"Does that mean you believe her story?" Venat asked inquiringly.
"Well, I can tell that she believes it," he said uncertainly. "But… the idea of accepting such a future…?"
He didn't need to finish. She knew exactly what he meant and she looked away as her eyes turned to the one window and she thought about it all. Her home, her world… everything she had ever known and cared about… was it truly all doomed? And those few who survived… she would sunder them? What did that mean, exactly? Would she be killing them? Those whom she had devoted her entire life to protecting? Why? Why would her future self do such a thing?
"You alright?" Hythlodaeus asked.
"Hmmm?" she questioned, looking back to him as he set the cups back into the cupboards after Venat had magically cleaned them.
"I asked if you believe the story then?" he repeated patiently and she looked down.
"I… I don't want to," she admitted, "For I could not ever see why I would do what I did… but at the same time, I can't bring myself to doubt her words. I sense truth there and yet… why would I do all that? What could drive me to such a point that I would not only go against the Convocation but to go as far as to sunder the world into shards like that? And now I'm telling the people of the future that their only recourse is to flee this world? To just give it all up? Nay, I cannot believe that. And yet… when I look upon my Traveler's Ward upon her… I know that it had to be me who cast it. There are many protection spells out there, as you well know… but this one is unique in that I created it."
"What exactly does it do?" he asked.
"Well, first and foremost it is a way to protect the traveler," she answered simply. "By warding them against corrupting influence upon the soul. But it has a secondary effect. By offering resistance by virtue of sheer willpower or strength. Those who are particularly gifted with being able to see into the past are naturally protected against such threats, such as Azem."
"Yes, she is particularly good at being able to view the past," Hythlodaeus nodded. "Right problem that was when we were younger but thankfully she has learned to not peek into people's memories without permission."
"Yes, and as such, those who are gifted with such gifts as she are naturally protected," she agreed with a slight smile. "Those with such gifts are more naturally resistance against such outside forces. Claire called this ability the 'Echo' I remember. Well, the two are very similar in that they both help to protect one from such aether corruption. However, those with the Echo—and even depending on the power and personality of their unsundered souls I'm guessing, can determine how they can naturally fight off such corrupting influences."
"And this ward of yours?" he asked.
"Is something that was made entirely from me," she nodded. "In contrast to what she called the Echo, which provides resistance, my ward is true protection. There are many other protective magicks but the one that she bears will enforce that she will be protected to all but the most powerful of aether corruption. Even those with the Echo may struggle against such foes. Not only that, but this ward also can help serve as protection in other ways… such as in battle, for instance. But to have it fully cast, one would need six elemental crystals of the highest purity… and they can call upon these crystals at any time. I could only imagine just how powerful the aether they could unleash with just one crystal… let alone six all together. But still, to cast such a spell is not something that I would have done lightly. The only other person whom I cast such a spell upon… was Azem."
"Azem? Our Azem?" Hythlodaeus asked with wide eyes and she nodded.
"Shortly after she took over my role as Azem and was getting ready to leave, I called her to me, and I cast my spell," she said as she smiled back fondly at the memory. How Azem insisted that she could go out and make her proud in exchange for her blessing. While Azem had accompanied her on smaller and shorter journeys plenty of times before then, this would be the first time she would head out on her own. Venat couldn't help but worry for her young protégée and so granted her a gift. A form of protection that would be like she was watching over her always.
"Interesting…?" Hythlodaeus said softly as he became thoughtful and paced a little around the room.
"What is?" she asked him as he thought it all over as his mind seemed to race.
"I don't know if you noticed it," he said slowly, "But… you can also see the color of souls, can you not? Have you noticed something… peculiar about hers?"
"That it is so much less dense than normal? Yes," she confessed as the two of them suddenly sat down at the table. "But if she had been sundered before then it only makes sense…?"
"No, I mean about the unusual color," he pressed on and she could see where he was going with this. "When myself and Emet-Selch first arrived, we were able to pick up just the tiniest flicker of a soul. We couldn't see or hear her… she was intangible. And Emet-Selch was kind enough to give her a tiny amount of aether."
"Really?" she asked with her eyebrows raised slightly. "Out of the kindness of his heart? Without any prompting from you?"
"Of course, I have always told you that he is a generous soul and so could not ignore one in trouble," he answered evenly, though there was a rather satisfied smile there. "But, it was only after that Emet-Selch so kindly gave her enough aether to make herself tangible that we could see her as she is now. But… it was her soul that drew our attention in the first place."
Up till now, he had his face in his hand as he thought it all over, but now he sat up and looked directly at her as he declared, "The color of her soul is identical to Azem. No matter how sundered it is… I could never mistaken that color."
And so he had hit her directly what she had been dreading the most.
It had crossed her mind when she had seen Claire's soul herself… but that had been painful to think about. To have come from the future but to have a soul the same shade as Azem? Then… the only way that could be possible… was if she was Azem's reincarnation—or rather an incarnation of a shard of their Azem. Which made sense… for if Azem survived the Final Days up to the point of the Sundering—which Venat had no doubt she would have—then she would have been caught up in same force that sundered the world as everyone else.
Which means…?
Her heart clenched at such a thought. Azem was someone who meant so much to Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus, and most certainly to herself.
She remembered how Azem would tell her of her friends—always speaking of them in the highest of regard… and once, she even shared a secret with Venat of a promise that the three of them made when they were young. How that when the time came for them to return to the star… they would all return together. Which for the people of Amaurot… that was the ultimate show of love and dedication to another. To wait to leave this world together… a promise that they would remain with them throughout the rest of their lives while walking upon this star… and be by their side when they return to the star as one.
When Venat heard that from Azem's own mouth, she knew just how much these two meant to her. How she would have done just about anything for either of them…? And yet now…?
If all this was true then fate was truly cruel.
Hythlodaeus would be destined to sacrifice himself by surrendering his aether—his own life—to Zodiark.
Emet-Selch would be one of only a few survivors and would be doomed to wander this world in painful solitude for thousands of years.
And Azem would be torn away from them… only to be sundered and force to be born, live, suffer, and die over and over again.
Her hands clenched tightly in her lap as the thoughts raced about her mind. Would she truly have done it? Sunder this world and the person she cherished as if she were her own daughter? Azem was so much more to her than just her student… the two have worked together, fought together, travelled together…? Shared more secrets than one could ever imagine, have wiled away many hours simply by talking of the many beautiful things they have learned upon their journeys…?
The thought that she could sunder her for any circumstances was more painful than learning of her own fate should this future be allowed to happen.
From the way that it sounded, that when she and Zodiark clashed… her victory was what caused the Sundering to begin with. Was it just an unfortunate accident then? That she merely meant to seal him away but the battle was so powerful that…?
It seemed to add up. How else could anyone ever be driven to make such a decision? Or could the world truly have been so badly off that she had no other choice but to break it apart?
She could all but hear Azem refusing to accept this and marching off to try and find another way to avert the Final Days. Venat could not ever see her willingly going along with a plan that would require that they sacrifice half their people to summon up a being like that. She would never accept defeat as an answer and would be striving to make the impossible possible no matter what it cost herself. She may try and fail… but she knew that Azem would rather fight and lose than to give up without even trying.
Which led her to think more about Claire. Despite the differences she could see… there were clearly many other traits that were just like Azem. Souls, no matter how many times die and are reborn, if such feelings or personalities were strong enough before can often reappear. How she would help others without any second thoughts to herself or any personal reward… to her love of adventure and experiencing something new…?
And she knew for a fact that if their Azem had been in the same situation and she was told that the only hope to stop the Final Days was to travel onto the past…? Venat knew she would do it without a second thought.
A hand suddenly started to wave in her face and she looked up in surprise to see Hythlodaeus smiling sadly at her.
"I'm sorry," she sighed but he shook his head.
"Don't be," he said. "This is… a lot to take in. and I found myself becoming lost when I first heard it. Though, if I must be honest… I can't say that I would be surprised if it did happen to Azem. I mean, being reborn as an 'adventurer' in this new future. Hah! This is just the kind of fate I might expect for one such as she. Surely Emet-Selch has recognized the hint of 'her' in this child?"
At that, she also chuckled.
It was so very like… her.
"Yes, I can imagine that she would be quite satisfied to have learned that she would have a fate of travelling and helping others," she agreed.
"And knowing that, it would also explain why Emet-Selch of the future invited her to his home," he offered. "Despite his proclamations, the truth is that he is a slave to sentiment and it would not surprise me that he would lose himself in his memories in such a way."
His eyes saddened and he looked away at the thought of how much one would be forced to suffer in such a way for so long.
"He truly cares for Azem, no matter how much he complains about her," he stated. "And if her soul was truly threatening to break apart because of this abundance of light aether—even if it was only a shard… well, I can't imagine he would sit back and do nothing. He would never allow her soul to break apart no matter how dedicated he is to his duty. Perhaps he truly could not bear to fight any longer and decided that he would go out while saving her soul in the process? I'm afraid that we may never truly know for sure."
He shook his head.
"Despite everything though, I could only imagine how much pain he had to have been in for all that time? It… breaks my heart simply to think of it," he confessed, lowering his head and shutting his eyes miserably.
"Hythlodaeus," Venat said sadly before looking away. After all, if she was to be the one responsible for this…?
"Well, I guess we'll just have to try our best to make sure that doesn't happen," he spoke up in a bit more forced cheer as she looked back at him. "As much as it would be interesting to meet this Emet-Selch of the future, I believe it best if it doesn't happen this time around."
Venat nodded in agreement. While she couldn't say for sure what the future has in store for them, but she would not give up in finding a future for them. She would never call upon an idea like Hydaelyn unless something gave her no other choice. She could not bear having to sacrifice all that she loved for this fate. She would do whatever it took to find the cause of these Final Days and stop it.
At that, Hythlodaeus stood up.
"Well, I have a feeling that Emet-Selch may have sulked enough by now and is secretly yearning for company," he offered on a bit of a cheerier tone. "What he plans to do after this, I can't say."
"Please look after him for us," she said. "I'm sure that Claire is feeling enormous guilt having been the one to reveal this truth to us. But I can only imagine what must be going through his mind right now…?"
"Not to worry, I'll be here to look after him," Hythlodaeus promised. "As for our… I guess I should call her our new, old friend… may I leave her in your care?"
"Of course," she said, already resolving herself to look after her. Even if it turns out that she wasn't Azem's incarnation—though the more she thought of it the more it all made sense—she had vowed to help her in her cause. "Leave her care to me. And I shall entrust Emet-Selch to you."
He gave a tired smile as he nodded and even gave a friendly wave before he left her alone.
She hoped to see them both again soon. If Emet-Selch is even half the man that Azem always talked about to her—then she had a feeling that he would rejoin them again ere long. She smiled a little more as she needed a few more minutes of silence to gather her thoughts together. Finally, when it became clear that she would not get a wink of sleep this night, she conjured up a quill and paper before she began to write down all that she learned today.
There was so much work that needed to be done. And even just adding the concept of time travel into the whole thing was going to be confusing and exhausting. She needed to have at least a basic timeline for everything… just to put it all in order before she would try anything else. Perhaps if she got it all sorted out then she would have her answers…?
Aside from pausing once in a while when she thought she heard a noise coming from Claire's room, she continued to look over her notes until sunrise could be seen creeping under the crack of the doorway.
(Wow. What a lot to drop on one person! The end of the world, death and destruction… and telling you that you're doomed to become a goddess? Wow. I could only imagine what went through her mind when listening to all that. As for right now, I decided to make them wait a little longer to try and build up more of a relationship between the two and to really start to go into more depth about her connection to the Azem of the Unsundered World. I feel that Venat would have truly cared about that Azem and so the idea of her dying and being sundered would have been painful to hear. And now she has a shard of that soul she cares about so much in front of her and so these new feelings are going to be a little confusing but I can totally see her becoming protective and caring over this shard as she gets to know her more of a person while they work together to solve this problem. Well, I hope that you all enjoyed it and look forward to what comes next. Next time the two begin their search properly as they look into more of the cause of the Final Days, Meteion, Hermes and everything. And Venat learns a little more of how beautiful and dangerous this future is that is waiting for them.)