Chapter 16
Two guards carried Jak carefully inside the Temple. They were lead by Damas and Keira, who were promptly greeted at the entrance by a male monk who introduced himself as Saye. The strange Precursor Monk stood beside Jak and touched his hand lightly to Jak's forehead, before pulling back suddenly, as if burned.
"He is infused with the dark substance," He spoke silently, though with obvious shock.
"Yes, Saye. We must seek the Oracle's wisdom on this matter," Seem spoke calmly, motioning for him to step aside, so they could proceed.
Solemnly they proceeded through the candle lit temple and started down the narrow stairs. Keira stared up at the ancient carvings in silent wonder. She ran her hand along the walls of the stairwell, feeling the many cracks of age in the smoothed sandstone. It seemed as if they had been walking forever, with only lit torches on the walls lighting the way.
Finally, they came to a medium-sized, circular room, with a bright light shining down at the center. Jak stirred and Keira rushed to his side, grabbing his cold hand and holding it to her chest, urging him to speak to her. But, it was not to last, and Jak's hand went limp once more.
"Come, we must hurry. He is only getting worse…" Damas looked on towards where Seem waited at a round entrance.
At the end of the short hallway, Keira could see the base of a bronze colored statue, most likely made of Precursor metal. She also noted that that it was not lit by torches, but by a bright bluish light, seemingly coming out of nowhere. Seem entered the enormous space first. Keira was amazed when she stepped into the boundless area, and looked up at the biggest Oracle she had ever seen. The ones in Haven were figurines compared to this one!
Seem motioned for Jak to be laid upon a slightly elevated platform that lay directly in front of the great Oracle. She whispered something silently while making several swift hand motions. A rumbling noise sounded, and the Oracle awoke, its eyes glowing an icy blue.
"Great Oracle," Seem pleaded, "This young warrior has been touched by the darkest of substances. He is dying from its infusion with his own lifeblood. He requires your aid." The monk ended, by kneeling next to Jak, raising her arms towards the Oracle as a supplicant.
All held their breaths, waiting an answer as several moments passed.
"You present me with the greatest Descendant of Mar." The Oracle stated, as if contemplating whether or not it would help their desperate cause.
Damas looked at Keira sharply, question and doubt in his face. He whispered to her, "That is impossible! How is he a Descendant of Mar?! I am the last of that line; for my son has been lost…He cannot possibly be…"
But Keira could not give him any answers, for she was as shocked as Damas. She knew nothing of Jak's family or relations.
The Oracle continued, "He has a gift for channeling, as all in his line do. The Precursors have deemed this Jak of importance in this world, and so I will cure him."
Keira felt relief course through her body. He will live. He will be cured.
The Oracle's eyes brightened, until they were a bright white, making the group squint in the light. Jak's body began to glow, faintly at first, until they could no longer see him, for the white light healing his body was as blinding as the Oracle's eyes.
Jak cried out. A cry of suffering? Pain? Relief?
Keira made a few steps toward him, one hand over her eyes to shield them, but Seem stopped her, "No! You must not interfere!"
The white light began to subside, and Jak stood there, or at least it should have been Jak…
But what was presented before them did not look like an elf. It look like it was split straight down the center, one half a ghastly animal with pale skin and a long claw, and the other a translucent blue, with an enormous wing sprouted from its back.
"Jak…?" Keira barely whispered
The being that should have been Jak stood motionless for several minutes, as if contemplating which side it wanted to be more.
Another flash of light, and then a booming noise; from the Oracle? From Jak?
Confusion was thick in the air, as the lighting of the room went dim and the Oracle's eyes closed. Jak laid there, in one form, a normal elf.
Seem now let Keira go, and the young girl ran to Jak's side. Jak blinked rapidly, trying to focus on Keira's face. She helped him to sit up and wrapped her arms around his torso, heaving a sigh of relief into his once injured, and now scar-less shoulder.
Then, she leaned back looking at his face, "Jak? Jak look at me," she put both hands on either side of his face, forcing his unfocused gaze to look at her, "…Are you okay?"
Jak smiled, taking her hands in his own, "I feel amazing."
Light Eco. That was what Seem had told him that the Great Oracle had instilled in him to save his life. Jak had never thought the substance existed. But, then again, where there is dark, there must be light. Or at least that's what he caught in Seem's lengthy speech on the subject. It was a strange feeling. He no longer felt the building rage deep inside him, yet he knew, somewhere, it lay dormant.
So, Jak, Damas and Keira loaded into the large land vehicle that they had used to get to the Temple, all relieved to be returning to Spargus healthy and well.
"Something on your mind, Jak?" Damas said, and with a hint of suspicion, Jak noted, from the other side of the vehicle where he sat, across from the couple.
"Just happy to be alive," Jak sighed lightly, giving Keira's hand that he held a quick squeeze.
"You are a Descendant of Mar," The King stated. He seemed frustrated.
Jak looked at him in shock, not knowing that while he had been passed out, that the Oracle had revealed his lineage. "I…" Jak began, but was cut off, when Damas folded his arms and began to speak.
"You cannot be. My son…No, I am the last of that ancestry. My son was, but…he was taken…many years ago…" Damas ended sadly, touching the Seal of Mar engraved in his breastplate.
"How did you find out?" Was all Jak could muster to speak. Keira looked at him surprised. Was he really an heir of the great hero Mar?
"The Oracle said it would heal you, because you were the 'greatest Descendant of Mar'," Damas recited.
"I've...I've never told anyone before…living in Haven it was a dangerous claim to make…I only knew because I had a Seal like that," Jak pointed at the King's chest, "when I was found by the woman who raised me until I was 15…It has my birth date engraved on the back of it. It's really the only clue I have to who I am, or was." Jak's confession came slowly, as if he was remembering a painful memory. Keira touched his forearm lightly. She had had no idea. He must have kept this seal in a good hiding spot, for she had never seen it in their time together.
Damas looked shocked at Jak's explanation. Could it be? Could this man of a twisted fate be the son that was taken from him almost 20 years ago?
"How old were you when you were found, Jak?" Damas straightened himself up, bracing himself for excitement or disappointment.
"They said I was four when I was found." Jak looked at the metallic floor of the vehicle sadly. Then, suddenly, Jak looked up again locking his now wide, blue eyes with Damas'.
The King leaned in towards them, looking intense. Keira glanced from Jak, then to Damas, not entirely understanding what exactly was being revealed at the moment.
"What was the date inscribed on the back of the Seal?!"
"December 6, 2687." Jak spoke slowly, not loosing eye contact with the King. He searched for answers within his eyes.
"Precursors…" Damas barely whispered, still staring at Jak.
"Jak?" Keira cupped his chin in her hand, pulling his gaze to meet hers.
"He's…my father."
Wow, big shocker, right? Haha.
Anyways, there's obviously no time travel business from the game that's involved with this story, or otherwise, it wouldn't make sense! Getting to the end, just need to tie up a few loose ends! See you at the next chapter!
