Chapter Three
The next thing I remembered was stumbling into bed and falling asleep, full from a dinner of Mrs. O'Conner's homemade soup made from Cetron, a large potato like vegetable, that wasn't as starchy.
As I lay in bed, my mind was soon captured by a dreamless slumber, and I awoke to the sun peeking through my window. I rolled over and realized I was still wearing my from the day before, so I sat up and began to change my clothes automatically.
As I pulled on the light cream colored sundress, I realized, by the sun's position in the sky, that it was about noon. I was late.
I stumbled out of bed as quickly as possible and tugged at my hair, trying to detangle it, all the while attempting to pull my shoes on as well. Finally after a moment of shear panic, I found myself running out of my room and downstairs.
"Good morning Erin," Remi greeted me with a smile as I slid up to the counter, "Glad to see you lively again."
"I am so sorry that I woke up late, I don't know why-" I began explaining in between breaths. Remi just smiled gently.
"Don't worry. My mother and I wanted you to take the day off." She said sweetly. I stared at her dumbfounded. I had only worked yesterday and I was already receiving a day off. I couldn't help but feel that there was a catch.
"Why?" I found myself asking. Remi looked at me sympathetically and somehow the fact that she could give me such a look bruised my ego a bit, but her sincerity warmed my heart.
"We noticed how upset you were yesterday," She said placing her hands gently on my collar, adjusting it neatly. I smiled my thanks and she let her hands go back to their folded position before her on the counter.
"Thank you." I said after a moment. Remi nodded toward the door.
"You have only been here for two days," She said gesturing to the door, "Why don't you go and have a look around." I nodded in agreement.
"Thank you again Remi," I said lightly, turning to leave.
"Have a nice day, Erin." She called quietly after me. I turned to look at her one more time before I stepped out of the door.
"You too." I said with a smile, turning out into the sunlight.
The city was smaller after a couple days of seeing it. I assumed it was because I was so used to the small town I had grown up in.
I had visited the library Remi had told me about and it was even better than she described. I would even have to say it was better than the one back in Erycana.
I had spoken to the librarian and tried to set up an account, but seeing as I wasn't an official citizen she wouldn't allow it. So I would have to speak with the Church of the Blessed about that.
I had journeyed over to the college and was amazed at the classes they provided there.
After a full observation of the college, I traveled on, heading across town to the church. After dodging people on carts and the legs of Propulsion-Motion Crawlers, a sealed vehicle made from low-density Chemonite, a silver material. The Crawler itself was shaped like a Elgabar, a big spider like creature, with long legs that carried the vehicle at a fast pace over the carts below.
Finally I made it to the church. The large building was very pretty, with the bricks forming pictures along the walls. The windows were a clear crystal, yet it reflected back, not allowing you to see in. I took a breath to calm my nerves and I opened the doors leading into the church.
The moment I walked in I was bombarded by the heady stench of Emoniel, a sweet smelling flower, that would have been intoxicating in small amounts, but the shear intensity of it made me gag.
Once I was able to get over the heavy smoke from the incense, I stepped into a charming hall, filled with candles, glowing, beautiful. My eyes danced with the reverence of it all. I had never before stepped foot into a church, but this was exactly how I had imagined it. Maybe even better than I had imagined.
"Excuse me child," I heard a peaceful voice say, "Is there something you need?" I turned to see a man leaning against the wall. The shadows hid his face, yet I felt as if I had heard his voice before. I nodded and he stepped forward, revealing to me a tired looking man with a somber smile. I assumed him to be a clergyman, but giving his apparel, he seemed more like the man that had come to the Inn. Wait…he couldn't possibly be, I thought shocked, he would have to be a very strong willed man to be out of bed so soon.
"Ah," The man said stepping closer, extending his hand, "I see you recognize me, young lady." So he was the man from the Inn. It's impossible, I thought to myself, he couldn't be well enough yet.
"Are you indeed the unfortunate that I happened to help a day ago?" I asked curiously. He gave me an insulted look and stood a bit straighter, for all that his old back could withstand, his hand still extended. I took it thoughtfully and he nodded at me.
"Yes, I am the man you helped, but I am not an 'unfortunate' as you so blatantly put it." He said serenely, offended at my words. I felt my face redden with embarrassment.
"I am sorry sir," I said quietly, "I just assumed by the way you look that you were-" He stopped me from speaking with click of his tongue.
"Never judge a book by its cover, young lady." He said wisely. I looked down at my hands childishly, mortified by my actions. I felt like a child again, being scolded by my father.
"Please forgive me," I stuttered, "I had no idea."
"It's quite alright," He said kindly, "You saved my life after all, and for that I am forever in your debt." I looked up and he gave me a smile. I smiled back after a moment.
"Please don't worry about it Mr.…."
"Isus Taytum." He finished for me.
"Mr. Taytum." I said with a nod.
"And you would be?" He asked respectfully.
"Erin Levine." I said with a smile. He nodded, and then, after a moment, looked at me through narrowed eyes. He looked me up and down slowly.
"Levine, you say?" He asked curiously, and I nodded, becoming curious myself. "You wouldn't happen to be the daughter of Aspen Levine, would you?"
"No sir," I said with a shake of my head, and he looked disappointed.
"That was my grandfather." I interjected. The disappointment in his eyes left, and were instead replaced with awe.
"So your parents," He asked, "Are you related to Aspen through his daughter or his son?"
"Lowry is my father." I said, becoming even more overwhelmingly curious at his odd questions. "My aunt Kathleen, died a few years back of Tranclith, she had no children." I remembered my aunt. She was much like my father, but more carefree. She ended up with Tranclith from drinking something imported. Her body decomposed from the inside out. It destroyed my father, knowing he couldn't save her.
"Ah, that's sad to hear." He said with a nod.
"If you don't mind me asking," I asked slowly, "How do you know my family?"
"I knew your grandfather, Aspen." He said with a nostalgic smile, "We grew up together, and went to school together in Olvion."
"I thought that Grandfather never left Erycana." I said confused.
"Oh, he did." Mr. Taytum said with a nod of his head, "We studied at the same college, but for different reasons."
"What were they?" I asked, curiosity beginning to overwhelm me.
"Well, Aspen studied medicine and I studied philosophy." He said, reminiscing. "That was something we never could agree on."
"Yes, my father always told me how Grandfather didn't believe in any other higher power than that of human capacity in medicine."
"Oh no!" Mr. Taytum said loudly, making me jump. "Your grandfather, he did believe in a higher power, just not the same as me."
"That can't be right," I said with a shake of my head. My father had always told me that my grandfather lived only for medicine. Father wouldn't lie to me, would he? My head raced with thoughts, but Mr. Taytum brought me out of them.
"It is the truth," He said, "But he didn't believe in the power of the Higher Beings, or the word of the church."
"What did he believe?"
"He believed in the power of Eleusian." My heart skipped a beat. Grandfather could never have believed in that. My father told stories about that. About what those people did.
"You're wrong." I said quietly, shocked.
"No, I am not," He said placing a hand on my shoulder, "He studied-"
"No!" I said loudly, "Father always told me of the Dark Arts!" I felt embarrassed, saying it out loud. I had been raised, understanding that Eleusian, of all the Arts, was the worst.
"Father told me what those people did! What they would have done if they were still here!"
"They are still here," He said with a shake of his head, "Your family is still here and families much like yours as well." I stopped.
"What do you mean." I said. The demanding, desperate tone in my voice, made the question more like a command.
"I have said enough already, I can tell you are upset by it." He said, turning to leave. I grabbed his shoulder and he turned to face me.
"What do you mean, Mr. Taytum." My voice as quiet as a whisper. He could tell I was serious and he let out a sigh. He gestured for me to sit, and we walked over to a bench and sat down. He sighed again.
"What were you told about the Art of Eleusian?" He asked, rubbing his knuckles.
"I was told that they, of all the Arts, were the darkest, and the most vile."
"Did they tell you why?" He asked solemnly.
"My father never would tell me." I said looking down at my hands.
"They were not dark, and they were not evil."
"But-" He placed a hand on my shoulder, and I silenced.
"They, the Eleusianites, were very powerful." He said kindly, "They were the brightest, and the most beautiful beings ever to grace Escatrya. That was why the others cast them out." I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"But, why were they cast out if they were good?"
"That is a tough question to answer, Erin." He said with sad smile, "I would guess because they were scared of the power that they held, and jealous of the beauty that they could never have."
"Where were they from?" I asked.
"They were from the Crystal Valleys."
"But no one has lived there for thousands of years." I said with a shake of my head.
"They did."
"How?" I asked. Mr. Taytum looked at me disappointed.
"I thought you were smarter than that." He said, "The Art of Eleusian, Erin. Don't you even know what it is?" I shook my head, confused. Though my father had told me that they were bad, he never told me what they did.
"Eleusian is the Art of creating life, and love, and truth. It creates ways to heal, and to help people. It was the most pure Art every known."
"Then why would my father tell me all of those things?"
"Maybe because he was scared that if anyone found out what your family was, that they would again be exiled." He said softly, "Where was it you said you were from?"
"Erycana."
"See? That would be the best place for your people to hide. The people there are beautiful, and they live their lives working medicine." I nodded. That was true.
"I don't understand." I said softly, "Are you saying that I am an Eleusianite?"
"No, I am saying you are a descendant of them."
"How is there a difference?" I asked confused. He patted my hand gently.
"You weren't raised learning the Arts, and your mother, most likely, is not a descendant." He said quite sure of himself, "But your father and grandfather, were. And Aspen, your grandfather was an Eleusianite."
"So what do I do?" I asked. Mr. Taytum looked at me, and gave a low chuckle.
"Well, whatever you want, my dear." He said with a smile, "I just told you a piece of your past, of your heritage. What you do with it, well, that is up to you." I nodded.
"Ugh…Thank you." I said kindly.
"Of course, Erin," He said, "Now, was there a reason you came to the Church today?"
"Yeah…I mean yes. I came to register for citizenship." I said. He nodded and stood up.
"Then let's get started on that."
