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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 6 - Omens of the Past

Part 6.11 - The Power of Faith

Deep beneath Narsille, the High Elder of the Order waited in his study, hoping and dreading news of the ritual's completion. The priests sent to accompany Jehad had returned and would soon give their report. He would praise Altimus for another successful ritual, and mourn the loss of his favorite pupil.

The old man sat on the floor of his plain study, quietly meditating. He felt every bit the ninety-six years he had lived on this earth, and wanted nothing more to pass the reigns onto his successor. the problem was that he had no successor now. Jehad had more than a student of the Order, he had been the Elder's first choice as the next High Elder. The Order would be a worse place for his loss, even if it was the Order's own rules that had taken him from them. He sighed and wondered what the future held for his people.

A knock at the door signaled the arrival of the priests from the mission. The three young men entered with haggard faces and fearful looks in their eyes. The Elder knew at once things had not gone as planned. He slowly stood up, his joints creaking as he lifted himself up from his cross-legged position.

"What news do you bring, my sons?"

No one spoke at first, but after several quick glances the priest in the middle cleared his throat uncomfortably. The news was not going to be good.

"Father, forgive us, but the ritual...was not successful," the priest said slowly, each word sticking in his mouth.

The High Elder said nothing, but looked from one man to the next, wondering just how the ritual could have failed, when it had succeeded so many times before. Why now? Why him? He sighed and waved the man to continue, not letting the dread growing in his heart show before his followers.

"Brother Jehad arrived at the island with us, but at some point that is unknown to us failed in his duties. The light that should have signaled the completion of the ritual never came, and we were forced to flee. The island was destroyed, and I fear our homeland may be no more."

The priest stopped here, a look of great loss in his face. The dream of all Order members was to someday return to the paradise of the homeland, blessed by the Holy Master himself. To see it destroyed was to see heaven itself fall.

The High Elder understood their feelings, but knew there were worse repercussions to the failure of the ritual.

"I see. Then all hope is lost. The Dark Master's vileness will spread unchecked now, and soon even our home here within the walls of Narsille will not be safe. I am sorry, my sons."

There was a strange look in the men's eyes now, and the Elder could see that they were not quite finished. He bade them continue with what they had to say.

"Father...we believe the poison to be no more, even though the ritual was not completed as ordained."

"What?" Now the Elder was surprised, and made no pains to hide it. Could all the ancient writings have been wrong? Was there no need for the ritual after all? He couldn't help but feel a flush of anger at the senseless loss of so many good lives.

"Father, it was the scientists who asked to be present for the ceremony. We believe they somehow managed to stop the poison flow."

"Impossible!" The Elder would not stand for such claims. Men of science had no place interfering in the ways of the Order. More of their technological heresy, no doubt. And to have his own followers believe in them was intolerable.

"Explain yourselves," he said coldly.

"We do not know how, Father," the middle priest said uncertainly. "We were evacuating the people from the landing point as the poison cloud approached, and witnessed the signal light, as you said it would appear. It could only have come from the vessel of the scientists. They had left before us in that direction, although we could not guess why they were heading back into the cloud. After the signal, there was no sign of the poison anywhere. It sounds impossible to believe, but they somehow completed the ritual where Jehad had failed."

The Elder remained silent, mulling over these new developments. What did this mean when men not of the Order were finishing their business? Were they no longer in favor with the Holy Master? Was science the new power of this world, and was this their Master's way of showing it? He suddenly felt much older, and asked to be left alone to contemplate the strange series of events.

The Elder spent a long and sleepless night attempting to come to grips with what he had heard. Something had gone terribly wrong on this voyage, and he somehow felt responsible. Had he let his people down? The world had been saved, yes, but not by the Order of the Pearl. Maybe there would be no successor when he was gone. Maybe the time of gods and legends was coming to an end. He only wished he could have left this mortal plane before he had seen such dark days.

The next day brought new surprises to the humbled Elder. The scientists who had stolen the Order's greatest moment had arrived in Narsille and requested - no, demanded - an audience with him. Such impertinence! First they mock the most time-honored traditions of his people, and now they come to gloat, perhaps ask for a reward? He would deal with them swiftly.

The Elder agreed to meet them in his study, and sent word to open to the gates above. In a moment two strong men appeared before him, each smelling of the grease and sweat of machines. How had he been fooled into thinking them men of high morals? The looks on their faces betokened respect and unmistakable kindness, however, and he wondered anew what brought them here. These were not the faces of men seeking a reward. These were the faces of men seeking answers.

"High Elder," the shorter, bearded man spoke. "My name is Ramses Indra and this is my fellow scientist, Alex Figaro. I apologize for disturbing you, but we have vitally important news to bring to you. Please, will you listen to us?"

The Elder couldn't help but say yes to the man. He seemed like a decent man, but the stink of science was about him, and the old mans fears of the end of his Order echoed in his mind. He offered the men a seat and let them speak.

Indie told the High Elder all the events that had taken place on the island, and afterwards, not leaving out any of the gruesome details, from Jehad's death, to Levi's treachery, to the loss of their friend and the annihilation of the people of Bariki. He finished by showing the Elder the scroll, carefully folded and sealed to prevent prying eyes from seeking knowledge they were unprepared to find.

The High Elder was stunned at the revelations the man brought. He did not want to believe things could have gone so horribly wrong, or that more lives had been lost because of their ritual, but the scroll in the man's hands was all the proof he needed. This was indeed a remarkable discovery. The Elder took the scroll from them and began to unwrap it, but Indie placed his hand on the Elder's, shaking his head.

"Do not open that here, High Elder. It contains a power that cannot be controlled, and you would be wise to keep it somewhere safe."

"I do not understand," the Elder said. "What is this scroll?"

"I am not a man of faith, High Elder," Indie answered. "But it appears this is a prophecy detailing events to come. Or possibly events that have already begun. It is written vaguely, but it seems clear that dark times are coming."

"A prophecy, you say?" The Elder wondered if it was indeed the Crystalline Prophecy spoken of in legend. Surely not...

"The words on that paper have a strange power to them." Indie continued. "Once you see then, you can't unsee them. They embed themselves in your mind, and you have no doubt they are the absolute truth. Whatever is written there will happen, of that I can assure you. We were hoping you might be able to shed some light on this subject."

"I must look at the scroll and study its contents to be sure," again the High Elder reached to open the scroll, and again Indie stopped him.

"You mustn't open it here, I assure you. We can help you to use it, but not here, in this small room. It is something that no one should see but you."

"It is that powerful?"

"Yes."

"Then I can think of only one place to take it. Follow me."

The Elder got to his feet as fast as his body allowed him, eager to see what strange relic these men had brought back. He guided them to the sacred hall, where only the highest ranked Order members were permitted. It felt strange letting outsiders into the hall, but these were strange times. He could think of no place safer to house the scroll than here, alongside the Pearl of Order.

The men entered the hall, the outsides gasping at the grandeur before them. This was nothing like the small cells they had seen elsewhere, or the Elder's sparse study. This was an architectural masterpiece to rival anything the city of Narsille above could produce. The hall extended for a hundred feet or more, great pillars lining its walls and chandeliers of crystal hanging from its ceiling. A vibrant red carpet stretched from the entrance down the length of the hall, leading to a giant winged statue at the center of the hall

They quietly walked down the hall, passing the glowing blue statue made of mythril that could only be a statue of the Holy Master, his four stone wings of light and darkness bringing Balance to the world. It reminded them strongly of the statues they had seen on the island, and they wondered what secrets this god of stone held. Indie was tempted to touch it, but knew now was not the time or place.

As the men approached the end of the hall, they saw the great glowing Pearl of Order resting comfortably on a pedestal, its light a familiar sight to the Indie and Alex. They had seen more than they had ever wanted of pearls on this fateful mission. The Elder seeing their eyes fall on the Pearl, told them its purpose.

"That is the Pearl of Order you see. Its light proves what you say. As long as it sheds pure white light, the world is at peace, and the Balance is maintained. If you had been lying, or of the ritual had truly failed, then it would be as black as night, and we would not be here right now. But as you can see, all is well..."

The Elder walked up to the Pearl and stood behind it, gazing at the two men intently.

"Now, I think, it is time for you to show me the contents of the scroll." The two men started, but the Elder waved them off. "Do not fear, I will call upon the power of the Holy Master to give me the strength to endure his wisdom. Please, hand me the scroll."

Indie cautiously walked up to the small flight of stairs that lead the Pearl's resting place, and passed the scroll over the Pearl to the High Elder. Indie couldn't help but look down at the Pearl as he stood before it. It seemed to pull him towards it, in fact it seemed to pull the entire room towards it. Indie blinked hard and stepped back away from the giant gemstone, rubbing his head with a slightly dazed look on his face. This place had an intoxicating effect on people, and he would very much like to leave as soon as possible.

The Elder took the scroll and slowly opened it, his one hand on the scroll and the other on the Pearl. He whispered more words of the language known only to him and unrolled the scroll. Indie and Alex braced for the inevitable reaction, ready to catch him and snatch the scroll as soon as he began to react to it...but nothing happened. The Elder calmly read the scroll as he would any other peace of paper. After a few tense minutes he rolled the scroll back up and placed it within his robes.

"I see...yes...this is indeed the Crystalline Prophecy spoken of in legend. I thank you two for returning it here. It has found its rightful home, now that our island is gone."

Now Alex spoke up for the first time since entering the Order's stronghold. "So you know what it is. Do you know what it means?"

The Elder chose his words carefully, not wanting to say more than the men should know. "In short, it is a Prophecy spoken of in our most ancient texts, one though to be only a myth. It speaks of many things, but most importantly of a coming war that will end this world and begin a new one." the Elder saw the looks of fear on the men's faces and laid his hand back on the Pearl.

"Do not worry. All things must end, and this end may simply be a changing of the old ways into the new. I have foreseen such a change, and am afraid it bodes better for your kind than mine. I will keep this scroll here with the Pearl, where it belongs. Besides the Pearl, this is the most valuable and powerful artifact of the Order, and I will not let it fall into unworthy hands."

Alex spoke up again, a hard note of anger in his voice now. "It has already fallen into unworthy hands, and a great many lives were lost because of it. Their blood is on your hands, High Elder."

The Elder seemed to grow much older before the eyes, his form slumped and his head bowed. He knew their grief and understood their position. They had lost much on this mission.

"I do not ask forgiveness for the ways of my Order. I knew Jehad was going to his death, and hated myself for letting him go, for he was like a son to me, but I could not have predicted the terrible consequences that would follow. I am sorry for your loss, and pray for the souls of those who gave their lives for our cause, innocent of our past sins though they may have been. Please, remember their sacrifice with honor, not with vengeance. That is the way to destruction."

Alex remember Silas's words of peace and could not help but be softened. He knew the Elder was right, and hating the Order would solve nothing. He calmed his nerves and spoke.

"High Elder, our friend would have agreed with you. He was of the finest men I ever knew, and would have fit right in with your way of life. He forgave your ways, and in fact embraced them in the end, and I must follow his example the best I can. We leave you in peace."

Indie nodded his head in agreement, and the Elder smiled. He supposed he had not made a bad judgment in allowing these men to join Jehad after all. If these were the hands the new world would be given into, maybe he could stand to watch his Order fade into memory. They had a long and prosperous history, and would now most likely follow the countless forgotten religions before them, to be replaced with the new. It was the way of Balance. Old and new, life and death, and now, faith and science. The Holy Master was truly a god of many surprises.

"Go in peace, my sons," the Elder said solemnly, guiding the two worthy souls back to their world above.

Two months had passed since the voyage of the Maiden to Phoenix Isle, and upon the dead shores of Bariki a man now arrived, seeming to rise from the ocean like a ghost. His deep red hair flowed away from his head like flames, and he was cloaked in a robe of pure black, his feet and hands bare. His skin was pale and covered in old burns, and his eyes were the same color as his hair. He smiled at the silent beach and nodded, seeming to approve of the islands current destitution. He turned and walked back into the waves, finding no need to remain there a moment longer than necessary. There was much work to be done now.

The man next appeared in Narsille, mysterious knowing all the Order's passwords and secret paths. He silently roamed the Order's halls, a smile fixed on his pale face. His black robes stood out from the white robes of the other members, but they were still unmistakable robes of the Order. He received many quizzical stares, but no one dared bother him. The heat he gave off as he passed by was enough to warn away any questions.

The High Elder was sitting in his study once more, his mind on the various matters of the Order when the man in black stepped through his door as if it was his own room. The Elder stood up in surprise, looking over this crimson haired stranger that dared to barge in unannounced.

"Who are you?"

"I am your replacement, Father."

"How dare you! I am the High Elder of the Order of the Pearl, and you will state your business here immediately!"

"You are my business, Father. Surely you recognize the rightful successor to your position?"

The Elder did not recognize this man at all, but as he looked into the mans horrible eyes, the pale face blurred and the colored, briefly regaining the youth and health it had lost. The eyes and hair remained a bloody red, but the Elder was horrified to see a face he thought gone forever staring back at him.

"J-jehad? Is that you?"

"I am so glad you recognize the man you sent to die an ignoble death, Father. It is this face I want you to see as you fade from this world."

The Elder stepped away from the dark man, the strange heat surrounding him growing hotter as he spoke. Surely this was not Jehad?

"My son, forgive me..."

The man's cold stare did not flicker once as he stepped closer to the Elder, backing him into a corner.

"I am no longer a son of man. I am and shall forever be Sade."

The man known as Sade reached for the Elder's throat and gripped him with one hand, lifting him off the ground. Where his hand held the old man tight, smoke began to stream out. The High Elder tried to cry out, but his throat was on fire, and he could only twist and contort his face into a horrible grimace of pain and anguish.

"Good-bye, Father. Do not fear, for you Order is in good hands now. These hands."

The hateful man let out a slow, deep laugh and increased the pressure on the Elder's throat, visible flames now pouring over the old man. Tears streamed down the dying man's face, only to be quenched by the fires at his neck. In a moment the flames had completely covered his body, and the man suffered no more.

Sade let the Elder's body drop to the floor, now only a charred corpse. His face returned to its former ghastly appearance, and he calmly smoothed back his red hair and sat at the old man's desk. A look of satisfaction spread across his face. One more step on his long journey completed, so many more to go. He sighed and looked around the former Elder's study, taking in his new abode. There would be many changes to the Order in the coming years, but for now he relaxed and reveled in his new position of power.

"Home, sweet home."