Good, third chapter but it will be necessary to wait a long time before the fourth. Firstly I have another fanfic on Gate that I must continue (Thus, the CELESTIALS have Judged There) that you will find in the crossover section and moreover I am absent for several weeks to cross France on foot.
-O-
THE DAY OF CONSECRATION
When she had finished walking the path of thorns and nails, Lorel was almost on her knees before the door of death. Although she was sprayed with water all the way by the priestesses and regenerated by her Apostle powers, she was covered in blood as she had fallen several times.
When the priestesses were done wiping her down, the high priestess dressed her in the sacred garb (lace that left the Apostle half-naked) that only Hardy's chosen one was allowed to wear.
Then she crosses the door of death which closes behind her. Now, in the darkness of the underworld, Hardy awaited her.
A white and cold apparition in the midst of darkness. Hardy liked to show off and wanted to impress her new favorite Apostle. Not for a second had she thought of Giselle since she had rejected her.
"My goddess, is that you? » Lorel asked.
"And who else could it be? » Hardy replied.
Lorel then knelt down, as everyone had to do in the presence of a deity and answered as best she could.
"No… I… I mean…. I…. When I saw you in my village... You were incredible of course but not so…. Glorious. »
"It's normal, see. Here, in the underworld, I am at the height of my glory".
"What should I do now to complete the rite, mistress?"
"Well you could start with…. Massage my feet. »
Lorel paused for a moment. She wasn't sure she heard correctly.
"Eh ?»
"In this place, there is only myself and the souls who pass through. Souls have no body. You, on the other hand, as an Apostle, can come here with a body. So, here, in this place, you can touch me and at the same time, as I am closer than ever to the world of the living without entering it, I can feel all kinds of emotions. A massage will do me a lot of good. »
….
….
….
….
What could Lorel do, except fulfill the whim of her goddess?
Lorel wasn't really shy about giving someone a back or foot massage, but it was the first time. First the dragon people have talons as feet and their wings are folded behind their backs. It is therefore difficult to massage anything in the first place.
This was not the case with Hardy.
No, what really bothered Lorel was the idea of physically touching her goddess. She didn't know if she was doing something deeply impure or if touching a goddess was a blessing.
Anyway, while she was on her knees, Hardy held out her right foot to her and Lorel began the massage and Hardy was satisfied.
After all, what good would immortality be if you couldn't enjoy life's little pleasures from time to time?
When Lorel had finished massaging both feet of her goddess, she spoke again.
"Good. You have performed the rite. You have traveled a path of suffering and at the end of the path, you have obeyed without complaining. Your service is approved. Now I want to entrust you with your first real mission".
"I am at your service, O goddess".
"The people of the Empire have gone astray. By dint of victory in the war, they have come to believe themselves greater than they really are. If I'm not careful, one day they'll end up believing themselves as great as the gods themselves. There can be no question of it and therefore, a particularly severe lesson in humility is necessary. »
"Pardon me mistress, but am I allowed to ask a question? »
"Oh, but of course. It is my duty to enlighten souls with my clairvoyance. »
(It was a way of saying that Hardy loved showing off her intelligence to those she considered her inferiors).
"You wish to cause all sorts of disasters on the Empire to remind them of their dominance ? »
"Hmmmm. No. It was my first idea but it will not be enough. They will simply believe that they are inferior to the gods, perhaps they will even attribute these disasters to natural disasters. No really. They need a much tougher lesson in humility. I'm going to hit them where their greatest arrogance is: their military pride. Sadera believes it armies to be invincible apart from the ancient dragons and gods. They do not for a second imagine being defeated by another mortal people. So that's where you have to hit. »
"And what people will give this lesson in humility to the Empire, oh goddess? I never left my village until a few days ago but I was always told that the Empire was the most powerful kingdom in this world. »
"This is not entirely true. There are other peoples far away who are as powerful as Sadera. However, they are TOO far…. But, and it's funny, some things that are much further away are also much closer. I will lead the Saderans to another world".
Lorel did not understand this statement.
"Another world oh goddess? I do not understand. »
For Hardy, it was a real pleasure to educate her new Apostle, still so ignorant, so naive.
"Look, and learn. »
Hardy opened her arms wide, showing Lorel a blue sphere of sea, green and yellow of land and desert, and white of cloud.
"Another world is another land Lorel. There shines another sun which lights up another sky. They are other stars that shine in the night. Another world is often inhabited by other peoples. This other world that you see, those who inhabit it call it "Earth". This world is populated by humans, like the Saderans. Now look deeper into that sphere and see. »
And Lorel was the first Apostle to ever set her eyes on another world and she saw what Hardy had seen. Cities bigger than Bellnahgo (which was the first city she ever saw because before she had never left her village). She saw metal chariots without horses, she saw people populating these cities as if they were gigantic anthills.
"I've been studying these people well for the past few days and even though I'm far from understanding everything, I tell you that they are much more powerful than the Saderans. »
Hardy stating that she didn't understand something was unsettling, but Lorel immediately dismissed the thought for fear of offending her goddess.
"So, I decided to open a passage between this world and ours. A passage called "Gate" which will take place at the sacred hill of Alnus. You should attract the Saderans there where they will only meet defeat, death and above all, humiliation. »
"Me oh goddess? But how would I accomplish this task? » Lorel asked, not seeing how her Apostle strength would help carry out Hardy's will.
"It will be very easy. Your mission will be to speak at Sadera's Emperor. Tell him about the Gate and the new world behind it. Emphasizes the wonders it contains. If he asks you why I am sending you to him, you will tell him that as Emperor of the greatest kingdom in this world, I have seen fit to keep him informed. Say no more and let him draw his own conclusions. If I know the men then I'm sure he will start a war of conquest. He will lose this war and the Empire will be humiliated. Perhaps even destroyed and then a new kingdom will emerge from its ashes. Humbler kingdoms. »
"You will be obeyed, O goddess. However, is there anything else I need to know? »
"Nope. Just let me know what's going on and when you get to Sadera I'll be right by your side to help you if the need arises. Now go. Re-enter the gates of death and return to the living. The Emperor is waiting for you. Run, fly like a hurricane to him."
Lorel didn't know what to say. This first mission to find the Emperor in Sadera was… gigantic. It would still take time for her to get used to her status and her responsibilities…. But she would not disappoint her goddess. She re-entered the gates of death in the opposite direction, then when the high priestess asked her what Hardy's wishes were, she simply replied that the words of the goddess were for her alone.
Then Lorel asked…. Nope…. ORDERED, that a bag be prepared for her with several days of water and food.
She was obeyed then she took off in the direction of Sadera as fast as her wings allowed her.
-O-
When she had finished walking the path of grass and flowers, Giselle stood in front of the river without understanding what was happening. Then the river began to boil but it did not evaporate and the bubbling rose up to Giselle's height and in the bubbling, two eyes of light appeared and Giselle asked a question.
"Who are you ? »
"I am the one who is ». said the voice filled with majesty and devoid of any arrogance.
"I don't understand. »
"I am the god of your ancestors, the god of Panthisea, of Merii and the god of Arachios. »
The dragon maiden immediately bowed, face down. Faster than she had ever done.
"MISTRES HARDY? IT'S YOU ? FORGIVE ME BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU APPEAR LIKE THIS TO ME! HOW CAN YOUR FAITHFUL SERVANT BE USEFUL TO YOU? »
Giselle shouldn't have doubted. Her mistress had NOT abandoned her. No doubt she had been deprived of her rank of Apostle simply because her mistress had judged that she was now worthy of some greater destiny. Perhaps she would even attain godhood now, in her people's holiest place?
The Ex Apostle had just risen from the deepest abysses of despair to the highest peaks of hope.
"Stop these thoughts Giselle because they will only bring you sorrow and bewilderment. » the voice said sympathetically.
"What…. What do you mean mistress? »
….
….
….
….
"You…. Aren't you Hardy?! »
"Get up and look into my eyes. So you will see. »
The dragon maiden stood up and looked straight into the eyes of the being in front of her.
Whatever her eyes saw... is for her alone to know, but she saw he wasn't Hardy. »
« I don't understand. Yet you said you were the deity of the prophets of Hardy's holy book. It means nothing if you're not Hardy. »
"Your people were not born on this world, Giselle. A long time ago, the one you call Hardy opened a passage here, in this volcano, between this world and that of your ancestors. She baited them as the hunter baits prey, with a vision of what he believed to be land promised to them. She gave them land, it is true, but she closed the passage behind them, cutting them off forever from the land of their ancestors and stealing their beliefs and their history which she perverted for her own profit. She did not think for a moment that "The One Who Is" had never abandoned your ancestors and that one day he would come. That day is today because today, more than ever, Hardy has proven herself unworthy of her office."
Giselle was flabbergasted. If someone else had said such a thing she would have cried blasphemy and her faith in Hardy would not have wavered. 400 years of faith would not disappear in an instant just because a big puddle told her that her faith was built on all kinds of lies. She was not a child. Her convictions and her faith were not so fragile.
….
….
….
….
But no lie could stand against the word of « The One Who Is » qho is all truth. Giselle was unable to reject « The One Who Is » word.
She could only accept it.
The dragon girl collapsed to the ground for the second time and cried again. For the truth that her goddess was a lie was a truth that hurt her heart harder than any blade had ever done.
"Again get up Giselle. »
The dragon maiden got up not knowing what was going to happen but still crying.
And "The One Who Is" wiped the tears from Giselle's eyes as they flowed down taking them into him. And the next moment the lie and the pain was gone.
And Giselle with a clear mind asked:
"Why…. Are you before me, God of my ancestors? What are you expecting from me ? »
"I want to give you a choice. »
"A choice ? »
"I saw the oppression and the bewilderment of your people, and of all the others, by those who were to guide them and not enslave them and I heard the cries of the slaves who should never have been slaves. I have seen every sick child and every broken family. So I have come to offer everyone another path that everyone will be free to follow without whips, shackles, walls, bars, fears, blindness, gods or mortals, being able to hold them back. A path that leads to a new land. A land where they will find friendly people who will help them grow and flourish. And among all the lost, it is you I want to send to undertake this work. To go to Sadera, to the Emperor, to carry my message, to open their eyes to the nature of the false gods and to straighten those whom they have bent".
Giselle allowed herself a moment of surprise.
"Me ? You want me to be your Apostle? »
"Yes and no. You will become the first of the Apostles, and the last of them. For I, "The One Who Is", am not a false god who bends those who come to him, under his rule. I wouldn't lay my hands on anyone
but of all beings you are the one I want to reach out to first. »
"But…. I…. No. It is not possible. How…. How can I ? I was Giselle, the Apostle of Hardy, the messenger of death. For centuries I terrorized these peoples and their ancestors in the name of my mistress and I was proud to do so. How dare I even talk to these people? I am neither worthy, nor fit, nor appropriate. You choose the wrong messenger. You….".
"Giselle, who gave these people who hate you a mouth to complain and curse? Who gave them a heart to love and to hate? Those lives you took, who gave them the strength to be born in the first place? Who in this world, and all otherworlds, decides on repentance, forgiveness and redemption? Isn't it me? It is because of all those who have been led astray, you are the one who most needs repentance and recovery that I have chosen you. Atone for your faults by helping those who long ago should have been helped. They are capable of greatness. They have the will. All they need is the light to show them the way. For this reason first, and for your need for redemption, it is you that I want to send to them... you, "The One Who Will Become".
"I… I wish it were so. I really want to because I feel that everything you say is true but I can't make this decision because I'm not the only one who would be involved. There is my family and those who were my friends. If I oppose Hardy, she will get avenge of me, and in her kingdom, their souls will suffer her wrath. Maybe even my people in this world too. She will hit everyone who has had the misfortune to know me and those you want me to help. »
"No harm will come to yours or to those who take the hand you offer them, have no fear of that. I can see that the one named Hardy will not hesitate long before raising her hand to them to calm her anger, but it is a firmer hand that I would stretch out in front of her to protect them. «
"I…. I feel that's true. But even so, neither the Emperor nor even the people will believe me. If I go to them and tell them that "The One Who Is" has sent me to get them to leave their religion, they will not believe me. They'll think I'm crazy or trying to regain my former glory. They will take me for a false apostle and will reject me".
"I will be near you at all times and I will be there when you go to find the Emperor. As you say he will probably not listen to you, blinded by the fear of false gods, by his arrogance and his greed. Then through you I will stretch out my other hand, and together we will liberate bodies, minds and souls by all kinds of wonders such as this world has never seen. »
All of the dragon maiden's worries faded away as the darkness faded before the light as each truth uttered by "The One Who Is" removed her doubts one by one. However, there was still one question.
"I…. You know there is still a question, right? »
"Yes, but you alone must choose to ask me."
"You said you offered me a choice. If I say no what will happen? I want to know what my choice is because if one day I were to have regrets and reproach, then I want the only person I can blame, that person to be none other than me. »
The mere presence of "The One Who Is" enlightened Giselle's mind and that was why she was already beginning to change.
"If you choose not to take my hand, then you can still choose to go to Hardy by stepping away from the ground you walk on to take the path of fire and enter her kingdom as you wanted to do. You can also turn around and leave this lair to find another way. And I, « The One Who Is », will extend my hand to the second person who deserves it most. The one you call Rory Mercury, because if her hands are stained with blood and her mind is struck with madness, her heart is thirsty for justice and her aspirations are those of love. »
Giselle had just made up her mind, but she was grateful for the choice. When Hardy had chosen her back then, she hadn't really had a choice then even if it didn't matter because she would never have thought of saying no.
And when Giselle had made up her mind, "The One Who Is" held out his hand to her and said to her
"Take this hand that I extend to you and enter into me for your ordination".
And Giselle took and entered into the bubbling to receive her ordination as "The One Who Is" descended into her.
"Together we will travel far Giselle. Wherever you go, I will go. Even when you cross the gates of death again you will not be afraid because I will be by your side. All my strength will be your strength. All that I am will come into what you are and all that you are will add to what I am. "The One Who Is" will become "The One Who Will Become" and "The One Who Will Become" will become "The One Who Is".
And as the most sacred of all rites was performed, a white light, purer than any other but which would not hurt anyone's eyes, spread over the whole volcano. And when the light had dissipated, the mountain of life deserved its name because there was no more lava or rock but only earth, grass, flowers and streams of clear water.
"Now Giselle, turn around and take back the bag that fed you to come here, because it is through it that, together, we will perform the signs".
And the dragon maiden, who an hour earlier was a fallen and was now the greatest of the Apostles picked up her bag which was empty but would soon be filled.
"When you get to the Emperor, there's one more thing you need to do. At one of his banquet tables you will find a woman. A woman consumed by hatred and revenge. She will become the greatest servant of the false goddess to hurt those you must to help. That's why she's the first one you need to help. Now let's go. All await your coming. Go, run, fly like the rays of the sun towards them. »
And without further question, Giselle spread her wings and took flight. No longer the wings of leather and claws that had always worn her since birth, but wings of feathers and light. Wings who could….
To carry her to the skies.
Good. You will surely have noticed some similarities (ok, a quasi-plagiarism) with the Judaic/Biblical passage where Moses meets "I am" in the form of a burning bush before being sent to free the Israelis from the slavery of the Egyptians . Those of you who are more knowledgeable will notice that I take a few liberties with the original scriptures (hope I'm not offending anyone, by the way). It must be said that the film of the "10 commandments" or "the prince of Egypt" themselves take some liberties. If not for the idea of god accompanying Giselle personally, this is not a first time. See the story of Jacob for reference. Let's just say that this time he will do something other than change the color of the goats (if my memory is correct).
Others will also have noticed that I added a few references from things other than ancient religions. Those there I reassure them right away: Giselle will not become Superman.