Beyond Aeaea
DISCLAIMER: The Vision of Escaflowne is not legally mine but the visions of this story are.
NOTE: You may have been curious about how Folken and Eries met in the first place, and the weirdness of the prologue. This chapter is a flashback that will explore some part of their past, and hopefully offer some explanations. So it's a little break from the timeline of the story so far since things have been going swimmingly for the couple so far.
You may recognize the island in the title from the one in "The Odyssey." And seeing my pen name, you can make some connections. But this is not necessarily the Aeaea of Odysseus, but my own version of it. So please keep an open mind for expectations and such. And so many ironies and little symbolisms which I enjoyed inserting. I can't promise that they will be sensible or clever, but the confusion is part of the "mystery" (or at least, that's my excuse for my little whims).
I have had ideas about how this part of the story would play out for quite a while now but somehow "Inception" gave some more inspiration. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the Escaflowne version of "Inception". But the ideas about the world of dreams which were shown in that piece of cinematic brilliance helped me put this together somehow.
I'll try to keep the points of view as balanced as I can since for the other chapters, I tended to be biased towards Eries. And forgive the cheesiness that will pop up every now and then. It's ironic how I'm a really cynical and serious person and yet a really cheesy writer. Maybe I'm a closet romantic. (I do not own the cheesy lyrics in this as well.)
And you will laugh at the way the chapter was started. But I couldn't resist putting those questions there, almost a trademark of the series.
Hope you like this installment, and thanks for the support. I'll try to keep the pace of the updates. My target end date for the story is 10-10-10. Hopefully, I'll make it.
Chapter Fourteen
Had it been but a dream? Or maybe a vision?
All they knew now was that whatever Aeaea had been, it had brought them together two years ago. And whenever they doubted it, they had only to glance at the brands on their thumbs to remind them that it had somehow been real. The sorceress had known that their memory might try to deceive them.
But their memories of the time there were hazy and incoherent, like the memories of a dream. For all these visions were quickly being replaced by the reality of their life together.
And as the days passed and their love grew, Folken and Eries found themselves reminiscing about the inexplicable events on the mystic island.
Aeaea, the island where truth was unshackled.
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"Welcome, honored guests," the dark-haired sorceress had said hospitably, as the boats floated towards the island bathed in moonlight.
Like moths drawn to a flame, the strange boats were pushed by the current towards the mysterious island. Each vessel bore only one passenger, who could only see what was before him or her through the lantern hanging on a post on the boat. The dark depths were everywhere, and the only land in sight was the island. There was no other destination.
Each boat bore only one passenger, bewildered and perplexed, but answering to the strange summons nevertheless. All the guests were strangers to each other, all equally bewildered and bewitched by the wondrous spectacle before them.
They had been taken from their worlds, from their lives, so that they could take this journey. None remembered how they had gotten there in the first place. The only thing that was clear was that they had no other place to go.
From afar the island seemed so tiny, like a patch of land with a small, lighted dome at its center. On the shore, the sorceress waited, the only member of a welcoming party. She smiled warmly at them and seemed very hospitable.
She was a tall, dark-haired lady, fair in complexion, and regal in manner. She was dressed in a long, flowing white robe that seemed to be made of pure moonlight. And though she had all the appearance of youth, there was a wisdom in her dark eyes that betrayed the fact that she had existed for a very long time. In the depths of her gaze were countless secrets, gathered through the years.
And though she was smiling, it was apparent that she was not to be trifled with. She had already cast her spell and resistance was futile. Besides, none of the summoned had any desire to resist. If not completely entranced, they were all curious about what wonders the island might hold for them.
For their invitation had come at a fortuitous time. All of them had grown weary and bored of their lives so far, and longed for something to break the monotony. And by some strange force, their wish had been granted.
And though she referred to them in the plural, none of the guests saw the others. All they knew was that they were being welcomed by an enigmatic lady.
It was thus that Eries found herself being led gently by the sorceress towards the lighted dome.
"Do come in, my dear," the lady said kindly, "and enjoy yourself as best as you can. Don't be shy, now."
And with that the young princess of Asturia entered the small structure, and then marveled at the sight within.
It was certainly a magical place. For the dome that seemed so small on the outside turned out to be a vast, luxurious ballroom inside. A grand venue with lavish decorations and elaborate architecture, it was nothing like any of the ballrooms the princess had seen, and she had had her fair share of grand balls in Gaea.
Elegant furnishings, magnificent chandeliers, vast staircases, glittering crystals, wondrous pillars, and gilded sculptures, it was an awesome spectacle. Soul-stirring music filled the air and the occasion was both festive and refined.
And the guests! Everyone wore an elaborate costume, with the most artistic masks and ornaments. For one soon realized that this was a masquerade ball, the most splendid ever held.
And after Eries had gotten over her astonishment, she realized that through some magic spell, she was already dressed for the masque ball. She wondered at herself and turned around to see the beautiful gown that she had somehow arrived in. It was unlike anything she owned, and seemed even more elegant and glamorous than anything her sister had worn.
As she walked around, she found a mirror in which to gaze at her reflection. And though not prone to vanity, she could not help but feel extremely flattered and gratified as she admired her new garb.
For the first time, she felt truly beautiful.
And then, she raised a hand to her face to touch the intricate and wonderful mask that she was wearing. She fit right in.
Somehow, everyone knew better than to remove their masks to reveal their faces. No, that would ruin the illusion, and run counter to the point of a masquerade ball in the first place.
Eries was not dismayed. In fact, she quite liked the idea. The anonymity made everything more exciting somehow, and gave her a daring she had not known she was capable of. For whatever this dream or illusion or vision was worth, she would make the most of it.
After a few moments, someone approached her and asked for a dance. He seemed friendly enough, and she happily obliged.
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Somewhere in the masquerade, another guest was still trying to make sense of the circumstances. He too had arrived on the island on a boat, and though he had so many questions to ask the sorceress, when he had actually faced her, he found himself tongue-tied. She led him easily into the ballroom and when he remembered what he had wanted to ask, it was already too late.
He was dressed in finery he could not recognize, and an elaborate mask obscured his features. His costume also conveniently covered up his metal arm in leather gloves.
Though he admired the architecture and wonder of the venue, he racked his brain for ideas about his current position. But though everything seemed inexplicably familiar, he could not remember any names. And this was extremely frustrating for him.
Was this a side-effect of the Destiny Prognostication engine somehow? Was he hallucinating? Was this another strange experiment? He could find no answers.
He was torn between joining in the almost contagious merriment and remaining a passive observer, as was his habit, and somehow figuring out what had happened to him.
"There is no rational explanation for everything, my dear sir," he heard the sorceress' voice. But when he whirled around she was nowhere in sight. But he had been certain of what he had heard.
"I suggest you make the most of tonight and enjoy yourself in a way you have not allowed yourself to do for many years," the voice spoke again, in a calm but authoritative tone.
After some thought, the pensive man decided that she was right. And he already knew that it was pointless to argue.
There was the protection of the mask, of anonymity, and somehow, the freedom from accountability. He knew it was an irresponsible way of thinking but he had been shackled for so long with duties and responsibilities that he wanted to be free of them, even for just a little while.
Folken sighed and shrugged with a smile of resignation.
"I suppose there's no harm in enjoying myself for one night," he thought, "besides, it seems like I don't have much of a choice."
The future was hazy to him, and there were no calculations to be made about what would transpire in that magical island. But his instincts were not on alert, and that ineffable force, that rush of Draconian blood seemed to be telling him that there was nothing to fear.
For the first time in a long time, he would leave his life in the hands of Fate.
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"Dance to your hearts' content, my dear guests," the sorceress announced, "it is for this reason that you have been brought here – to dance, to live, to be free. And to find that which you did not even know you wanted."
All of a sudden, she was at the top of the grandest staircase, as if a performer on stage. For some reason, all of the guests felt compelled to give a round of applause. The music stopped for a few moments, so that all eyes and ears were on the gracious hostess.
She gave a small, grateful curtsey. She was the only one there not wearing a mask, and she intended to make her intentions very clear.
"You must be wondering why you must continue wearing your masks," she explained further, "but do not fret, there will be an opportunity to remove them later. For now, you must dance, move around, mingle, and shake off all your inhibitions. Keep on dancing until you reach that moment when you would want to reveal your faces."
All the guests were listening intently now, and there were some murmurs of puzzlement in the crowd. The hostess was not bothered by this, it was a natural reaction, and she was accustomed to it.
"You must realize that your coming here is not some shallow fancy and excuse for wantonness," she continued, "I will not be telling you when you should end the masquerade, you will know yourself when the appointed time comes. What happens beyond that, I leave up to you."
Each of them would find a partner with whom they would spend the rest of their time on the island, someone they were destined to meet. It was not necessarily a romantic encounter, for some it would be a long-lost friend or family member. Or an enemy seeking reconciliation. But for others, of course, love would be involved.
"The only rule I shall impose here," she continued, with a graver tone, "is that you are prohibited from revealing your names or any clue about your origins. And should you attempt to do so, you will be unable to."
Some gasps were heard from the crowd but no one look severely distressed. The enchantment of the island was already upon them, and though they could remember places and faces, they had already forgotten names, including theirs.
"Have no fear," the sorceress assured them, "this memory loss is only temporary, and you will regain everything once you have left this island. For now, truth must be unleashed in a different way. Because you must all know that at times, names and titles are more effective masks than those you are wearing right now."
Many nodded in agreement and shrugged. She was right, of course. They could not contest that claim.
Her dark eyes surveyed all the well-dressed guests, for the sorceress already knew who would be paired with whom. What was left was for them to discover each other. And she was always intrigued by the decisions made beyond that first moment of contact.
"I will not bore you with long, complicated explanations," she said, "that's unnecessary. Suffice to say that what happens tonight might very well change your lives, if you let it. For now, I take my leave."
And with these enigmatic words, the sorceress disappeared and the music resumed. Although still confused by her instructions, the guests decided to follow her advice and to continue dancing, now driven by an eagerness and curiosity about the moment of unmasking.
They were all enjoying the festivities too much to complain. They would remain there as long as they could, for the life they had led so far had been so devoid of such pleasures. And the hint of adventure was enough to keep their energy up.
What had she meant by all her words? What were they to discover? The ball had just gotten a lot more interesting.
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The music was lively and everything was splendid but the mood had shifted significantly. Now, everyone seemed to be hurrying in search of something they could not even describe.
Eries felt the change as well, just after the sorceress had given her strange speech. She began to wonder what the woman had meant, and what all this meant to her. Was this a game?
The dancing continued but this time everyone switched partners more quickly and more frequently. There was no ill will on either side but whenever Eries danced with someone, she would already have a sense of whether she wanted to continue in this person's company for a longer time. The same thing would happen with her partner, and they would part on good terms, a smile a bow, and then, she would be dancing with someone else.
Strangely, no conversations were held during these dances. Eries did not mind so much. Sometimes, speaking, even on very mundane things, became a bit of a burden. And since the dances were shorter and shorter, she never felt obliged to speak. There would be a flurry of movement, a swirl of her gown, and then it would be over. How she wished boring social functions in Asturia could be this brief!
As she continued to dance, she wondered what she would be looking for in such a mystical place. Was there something missing in her life so far?
Surveying her circumstances, she conceded that she wasn't really unhappy. She was a princess of Asturia, a talented young diplomat, and an asset to her father. She had two lovely sisters and some good friends. She could want for nothing, really. Or maybe she did not know what she wanted or needed.
And then it occurred to her as she curtseyed to yet another partner and moved on to the next. If everyone there was in search of something, could it be that someone there needed her?
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Throughout the dance and the continuous transitions between partners, Folken was deep in thought. He pondered heavily on all that the sorceress had said and like the others, he wondered about what he had been brought to the island for.
His life had been eventful enough, and he did not know if he would welcome further changes. Though nightmares of the past continued to haunt him, he had left his life in Fanelia behind. There was no going back.
And the sorceress was right about names and deception. He knew that only too well.
But did he really want to reveal his true face to anyone here? Was it necessary to burden anyone with that much?
He shook his head and tried not to ignore his partners so much, although they all seemed equally distracted. He tried his best not to cause any offense.
Again, the whole situation confounded him, and he could not for the life of him make sense of anything. So once again, he decided to resign himself to fate, to let forces beyond his control show him the way forward.
With a polite bow, he bid farewell his latest partner and turned to find another lady who would do him the honor. A tall, dignified young woman took his hand, and they began to dance.
But something was different, and both felt the change immediately. They looked at each other in alarm, and through the masks, their eyes met.
They said nothing because they could not think of anything to say. But as they danced, they were no longer in an impatient hurry to get rid of the other.
And at once the music seemed to grow mellow and it seemed that everyone had found his or her destined partners. The dance was slower now, as if to give them all the opportunity to take in what was happening.
After staring at each other for a few moments, each turned away in embarrassment, and both focused on the dance.
He had been caught completely off guard and did not know what to say. No woman had ever had such an effect on him and he did not know how to react.
For her part, she was embarrassed as well and back to her shy self. She was nervous and uncertain as he led her across the dance floor and wondered what would happen next.
They had read so much about such a feeling and seen so many others succumb to it before. But neither had ever imagined ever falling prey to such a common trap. They had always seemed so invulnerable, or at least believed themselves to be so. In their lives, there never seemed any room for such frivolous things.
But they felt safe and comfortable together, for some reason. All pain or sadness was forgotten. It wasn't as frivolous as they thought.
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place, a song was playing, and suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace.
And in spite of herself, Eries had to smile, for the music was echoing what she had been thinking. It was such a ridiculously romantic notion and she was surprised that she was capable of such thoughts.
"Why are you smiling?" her partner asked gently, and he had smiled as well.
She looked up at him, blushing slightly.
"Oh, it is of no consequence," she said timidly, "it was just something silly."
"I'm sure it wasn't," he told her earnestly, "nothing about you seems silly at all."
"Thank you," she replied shyly.
They were silent for a few minutes.
"I'm sorry," Folken then said, "this is such a peculiar situation. I don't really know what I should say."
"I understand completely," she replied with a smile, "and you don't need to worry. I am as lost as you are."
"The funny thing is," Folken continued, surprised at his own daring, "though we are not compelled to say anything in particular, we are also free to say anything at all."
"You must be right," Eries answered, "and aside from your name, of course, since we have been so particularly instructed, you are free to tell me anything."
"Thank you," Folken replied, "that is very kind of you."
Now, it wasn't as if there was nothing to say. On the contrary, there was too much to say. They simply did not know where to begin.
But later on, they would tell each other everything.
They began to speak more freely and with greater ease as the dance progressed. And when the music ceased, the sorceress reappeared to announce that the guests may proceed outside for a tour of the grounds.
Though anxious about imposing upon her, Folken shyly offered his arm.
"If you would give me the honor of your company, my lady," he said politely, "I would very much like to continue our conversation outside."
"It would be a great pleasure," Eries replied sincerely (and more eagerly than she had expected), "and you needn't be too formal with me."
Folken nodded. And then, Eries decided to be a little bold.
"But there is one thing I'd like to do first, if you don't mind," she said shyly.
"Anything you wish," Folken replied.
Taking a deep breath, Eries raised her hands to his face, and placed them on his mask. The moment had come.
"May I?" she whispered nervously, seeing his eyes widen.
His expression softened however, and he nodded.
"Of course," he whispered back, for he had raised his hands to her mask as well. She had given her silent consent.
A few moments later, all masks were discarded.