Chapter 14 : Dissension
We bicker amongst each other like children, forgetting who amongst us is friend or foe
Oblivious to us the time of reckoning draws closer, for it is then we are left to woe
At this very moment, there are hundreds, if not thousands of people whose lives are constantly changing. Each soul continually adds to the strands of destiny, affecting the new strands to come, and those woven in the past. For each decision they make, an irreversible change is brought forth. Once that decision is made, time shall never shift backwards to make amends. The choices they make affect the lives of all, in one way or the other. Unbeknownst to them, someone's life may have changed entirely out of the slightest of actions, or out of the simplest of gestures.
"Lina, marry me. You've made me the happiest I've ever been…Please, let me do the same for you"
"Purist…I… don't know…"
"If you say yes, I promise to stand by your side till the very end. Together, we'll live our lives in joy and happiness. Someday, when all this is over, perhaps we can start our own family. I love you Lina and I know you love me too. Grant me this one wish Lina…and I promise…we'll always be together until death does us part…"
Not all gestures are that of kindness. There are those whose hearts are defiled by tainted blood. Compassion and love are shed away from their memories and are replaced by a never-ending lust for power and glory. So hell-bent are these vile scum on satiating their hunger that they stop at nothing to fulfill their aims, even it means eradicating all impeding their journey along the path to greatness. However, so absorbed are these people that they forget to act discreetly and unbeknownst to them, they are watched quietly from those within the shadows.
"Abaddon…help me…please…I'm dying…"
"Frostmourne…how I've longed to have you within my grasp…"
"Abaddon! What…what are you doing?! I command you to cease at once!"
"Succeeding you, my Lord."
It is said, if you come to a standstill and listen openly with your heart, there is a chance that you may be able to hear their whispers. Deep within their mind, there echoes whispers of betrayal, forbidden love, or perhaps even those of disbelief.
"What do you mean, he's dead? He promised…are you saying he broke his promise? You dare to lie to me? He isn't dead. It isn't him… I refuse it to be…This is just another one of your tricks that you're playing on my eyes…You must be lying…you have to be…He just can't…he said we would die together…he promised…"
In the lives of some, love ones are forever vanished. The heartache they must endure is perhaps a fate worse than death yet sadly is meant for them alone. Their love may have been open or kept secretly within the confines of their own hearts. Yet news of tragedy leaves their hearts shattered as the harsh reality of the truth finally sinks in. There are those that choose to weep in solitude while there are some whose last vestiges of sanity all but evaporate. Unable to control their mixed outburst of raw emotion, they sometimes make mistakes that they deeply regret later. Mistakes that at times can cost them their very lives in the long run.
Let the tranquility of the silence take hold of your troubled soul. Open your mind, young ones, and let your deepest thoughts roam free.
"I should've been there for him…I should have been there when he needed me the most. Now…he'll never know… and I'm only to blame. One more chance is all I ask for. Never again would such a travesty occur, never again…even if it became the death of me."
Who am I, is a question you must all be pondering over. A mythical beast is what I am, fabricated from the hopes, dreams, and desires of the denizens of the mortal world. I am Jakiro, an incarnate spirit, imbuing the sheer destructive power of Malygos, the Spell-weaver, and the eternal knowledge of Alexstrasza, the life-binder, and brought to life under the gentle disguise of a chimera. My spells are empowered by the icy enchantments of the blue dragonflight Malygos, aided by the fury of the red dragonflight Alexstrasza's fiery rage. While I may not be as powerful as the majestic dragonflights, I still retain prowess over their countless hidden talents and devastating abilities.
I prefer my gentler, less threatening power of telepathy. In truth, I despise to battle, but I was sent here for a reason… and that reason I must fulfill. Nonetheless, I love to lose myself in the hearts and minds of others. Ah, how I love listening to the whisperers of the world! Their heart's truest desires become known to me, yet they still spend hours endlessly wishing for a distant soul to hear their inner plight. The desires of the heart are strange, yet curious phenomena. At times, they believe that even the most impossible acts can be enacted with an unshaken resolve and a bit of faith. At others, it rejects the plausibility of even the simplest of occurrences. Love is a delicate, fragile thing and must be dealt with cautiously. In a mere instant, love can kindle inside a nearby soul, while in just another, it can be crushed and fade away with the passage of time. Let there be silence once more…for I sense I hear someone whispering…
"If only you could read minds, sweet Rylai, how much easier this would be for me. Every second of every day I must endure everlasting torment, knowing that you can not possibly find out of the endless devotion I am prepared to give you…it torments me so knowing that I can't tell you… that I love you."
We always talk of the quiet before the coming storm, and of how furious Mother Nature's wrath shall be. We never seem to talk of the quiet after, relish the momentary time of peace, and bask in the blissful serenity that we so rightly deserve. We rather choose to bicker of the here and now, ignoring the solitude so graciously bestowed upon us. Listen to them arguing like children, ready to be at each other's throats…
"Have you gone blind? Do you not see the dead corpse that lies before you? He is the one you called your leader. How will he lead you now, he's dead! Are you all such fools that you can not fend for yourselves? First Purist, and now Furion…the death count rises proud Sentinel. It shall only continue to rise, is there no one that can see clearly?"
"Lina… don't be brash about it. We know of your loss, but revenge is not the answer. Don't let your feelings for Purist cloud your judgment—"
"One more word Luna, and I swear upon your goddess Elune that you never see the light of day again."
"Watch your tone with me girl. I am your superior and you will not address me so—"
"Last time I checked, that was according to Furion. He's dead now. I'm pretty sure he won't stir in the grave once I choose to—"
"Have you gone mad? Are you even listening to yourself? Openly attacking the Scourge at this stage…are you insane? What your asking of us is to do is suicide, and for what? To avenge the death of a low ranked soldier?"
"The low ranked soldier you refer to, Lady Moonfang, is the father of my child to be."
"Lina…I…--"
"Spare me the pleasantries. All who wish to stay here and continue their democratic way of life until the Undead come and slaughter the very last of us, by all means, choose Mistress Moonfang to lead you to your demise or these god-forsaken foreign kingdoms that may help. I'm sorry to say, but the taint of the Scourge has spread much further than just Ashenvale. All those who wish to resist the oppression of the Scourge, should follow me. Do as you deem fit, but know that the choice you make now affects whether you live to rise again another day. You, lady Moonfang, may prefer to live under the tyranny and oppression of the Undead, but I shall choose to strike them while their armies still lay in shambles. Suicide it may be, but I'd rather die a valiant death than live as a monstrosity."
Then, there are those souls who feel as if they are lost in the mortal realm. They search continually for answers, answers to questions they already know. Soon, they drive themselves near the rink of insanity with this immaterial quest. Much like the clockwork swinging of a pendulum, their emotions run wild and free, seemingly aimless in their goal yet changing in the spur of a moment. Unsure of the new world around them, they make mistakes, even if they were out of good intention.
"Salvation for you…my brother…Salvation for you…Now let me be set free from this curse…"
"But what of all of this senseless violence, brother? This is not your salvation…this will not absolve your conscience…"
"Then free me, Remmy…I don't wish to be subjected to such torment…"
"You killed me; brother…and the guilt will slowly consume you… and erase the very last vestiges of your sanity. But there is still hope… If you truly wish to be set free, seek the one who bears the knowledge of Dara'ghuman…"
A few roam in this world in solitude, choosing to force the world away from them, when in reality companionship is what they truly desire most. Among them, there are souls who isolate themselves not by choice, but are forced to reside in isolation by those who misunderstand. Their hatred is fueled by their burning desires of vengeance, until that is it slowly whittles away their existence. So haunted are these beings by the distrust and betrayal of others, that they begin to question even the good of their actions.
"I lay ever so still, shivering in the darkness that consumed my very soul. I can neither gaze upon the bustling free world beyond the eternal dark void, nor hear the cries of freedom echo in my mind… They banished me... and I was their own kin. I shall have my revenge on them... blood for blood...Vengeance... will be mine..."
There are those that question their decisions and are unable to determine whether their intentions were right, or wrong. Truth be told, only they know, yet they continually seek the opinions of others, hoping to be told that which they already knew. Within themselves, their mind is fighting a constant battle, yet unfortunately, it's despair and profound confusion that usually reigns triumphant.
" Master…I need your guidance…what am I supposed to do…this woodland creature threatened to kill us…but it seems a sin to put an end to his life…should I let him live, or should I leave him to die here alone? Three days have also come and gone…what should I do Master…I need your guidance…Enlighten me, Master Kel'thuzad…I need you now more than ever…"
The serenity of the forests is so calming, so soothing. If perhaps we take out but a moment of our meaningful lives to enjoy the silence, we may be able to see past the darkness that blinds us from the truth. A veil of shadows has been cast upon our vision and what lies behind is known to only a few. Have you wondered what lies hidden in the darkness? I once wondered too and I found my answers… but that is something I can not tell, for it threatens to dismember the strands of destiny itself.
Do you believe one man can change the lives of others? I do, for I believe a mere action can have an impact on many lives. Be it by the slightest of actions, be it by the kindest of gestures. The choices we make, in the end do matter, be it for better or for worse. I truly believe that one man can change many lives. He can be a symbol of guidance and a beacon of hope for others, while never knowing it. He could be the love of someone's life, but never find out how much pain he caused those around him. Be it by joy, sorrow, or love you never know how great an influence he might have had, or how important he was in the life of another being. Living or dead, he can bring distress, pain, and rekindle old feelings of hopelessness to someone admiring him from afar. It is said, every man lives, but not every man truly dies. He lives forever in our hearts, in our spirits, and in our souls. But is death truly the end for him?
"With Furion in the grave and my men ready to strike a rebellion, it seems that there are few left to trust. Even the woman who I loved turned against me, so it seems I must find those who will remain loyal to me once situations turn grim. Do you understand why I have brought you here?"
"Yes Lord Abaddon…but I do not understand why have chosen me…"
"It is simple, Forsaken Knight. To be able to take down the mightiest of armies, you must either take it down from the roots or ensure there is no one else to aid them in their time of need. This is why I have scattered my forces; to take out distant kingdoms should the Sentinel choose to ask foreign lands for help. I shall not make the same mistake as my predecessor did…I shall not rely solely on my men, for I can sense distrust well."
"But Lord Abaddon…I do not understand---"
"If I even attempt to send my army under the command of another, they will retaliate and shatter the last regime of the Scourge. You are a person they have grown accustomed to over the ages and would never expect to face an army led by you; an army seeking to vanquish their feeble numbers. A leader, they once trusted and fought valiantly alongside, now shall be a foe they shall cower in the fear of. I believe that the preparations for your departure are ready?"
"Yes…Lord Abaddon…I shall not fail you…"
"Then I welcome you to the ranks of the Scourge, Purist Thunderwrath… I welcome you to the ranks of the Scourge…"