Chapter Five - The Harvest
...
The otherworldly being invited Noctis for a walk. Before they departed, Odin sent him a gentle glance and then the being's eyes mysteriously shied away. Noctis felt rather than saw a soft, long robe of light clothing his own wispy looking body. He looked down at himself but found he couldn't stare too long at his own hands; as though his fingers would instantly melt away like candles in the mere presence of flames. Noctis panicked a little, but found once more, that when he focused his awareness elsewhere, his fingers and hand suddenly reappeared.
"What is the meaning of the Harvest?" Noctis asked, resuming their conversation as they moved along, side by side, through the dazzling area of light.
Long strands of hair fluttered with each step the majestic looking entity took forward. Odin graced Noctis with another delicate looking smile and their eyes met briefly. Noctis had been in the stunning presence of the Astrals before and he had fought side by side with Ramuh, Titan, Leviathan, Shiva and Bahamut. And still... for some unknown reason, he couldn't come in terms with this being's astounding aura of respect, acceptance and unconditional love toward him. Genuine emotions of such a magnitude and intensity, well, Noctis truly couldn't remember ever having felt before. It made him want to bawl his eyes out and embrace everyone and everything with laughter and joy, all at the same time.
"As with all beings in nature, the universe is fluid and alive," Odin replied. The being motioned with his hand upward, the movement just as graceful as Odin himself was.
Noctis watched in growing fascination how some kind of a holographic movie started playing all around them. The area of light dimmed its brightness and allowed the incoming visual information to take place. The two men slowed down their comfortable stroll when a multitude of planets, stars and galaxies appeared before them. There was no ground underneath them, only the breathtaking vastness and significance of the glowing cosmos enveloping their energy bodies from all sides. Noctis silently took in the complexity and beauty of creation itself as he listened to the soothing voice of the otherworldly being communicating within his mind.
"Everything within the universe, seen and unseen, moves forward and upward through cycles of transformation, relentless in its pursue of reaching oneness and perfection. What your peoples might fear as cycles of death and rebirth, is but a natural outcome of evolution, a recurring phenomenon spread throughout all existence and the only means toward transcendence into a higher state of being. The planetary entity your peoples are living on, named Eos, has reached her own major cycle of transformation in the plane of third density. Eos is currently in the process of ascending to the fourth density level of existence. Hence, the Harvest is inevitable and encompasses the children of light, fifty one percent or higher in their polarity, joining Eos in her upcoming ascending process. Children of darkness on the other hand, ninety percent or higher in their polarity, shall be meeting their unpaid dues and descend to their own realm of existence within fourth density."
"So... there are two separate realms in the fourth density? Why the sudden separation? Good and Evil have always coexisted on Eos since the dawn of time, or am I wrong in my observation?" Noctis asked.
The being took an elegant step forward and initiated another movie to play in their surroundings. Vibrant colors formed into new visual formations and they chimed, their sounds reverberating beautifully all around them as various star systems zoomed in and out. Different foreign looking beings, who were living in all these different places - some living peacefully and in harmony with each other, while others were living in oppression and fear - were shown to Noctis.
After allowing the young wanderer a few moments to digest, Odin began to explain: "Each cycle of transformation allows the soul a new reflection of its own path of evolution. When the next stage of their sacred journey toward oneness and perfection arrives, at the advent of Harvest, the soul may choose between light or darkness. They may choose to either be of service to others or of service to themselves. Because of the tremendous change in frequency, souls of different polarities naturally separate from each other in order to further distill and refine their understanding of their choices among like-minded peoples; retreating inside their own realm of existence. This ongoing progression lasts until each soul reaches the awareness and purity necessary for sixth density understanding. That's when all children of darkness have no choice but realize, that in order of ascending and further refining their understanding of creation, love of other-selves must be fully understood and embraced. Only then, separation makes way to unity once more."
Noctis stood there, or rather, his feet floated in the air, as he watched the drama as old as time unfold in front of his wide eyes. Noctis honestly lost count by then; he watched thousands upon thousands of people on other star systems and galaxies, who were either helping each other and sharing among themselves, or in some other instances slaughtering another and greedily and selfishly accumulating wealth, land and power. Ultimately, no one gets to know true peace until they evolve to the place Odin originates from.
"What happens to the souls, who don't reach the criteria required to be harvested?" he asked, somewhat dreading the answer.
Odin didn't look at Noctis when he replied, instead observing his brothers and sisters going on with their lives in the lower levels of density. "There is no reason for concern. The souls not being harvested will continue their journey on other planets or dimensions of their choice, until they refine their polarity and until the next cycle of transformation arrives. Thus, leaving another opportunity open for them to be harvested."
Finally comprehension dawned upon Noctis. The universe wasn't mostly empty and it certainly wasn't dead in any sense of the word. It truly was alive. It had it's own, intricate and complex intention and purpose, and someone or something vastly intelligent must have created it. Nobody would be truly lost and in the end, everyone would be winners; even though the journey seemed infinite and never ending.
Having gotten a glimpse of all those wonderful beings existing and living on the fourth, fifth and sixth density shook Noctis to the core and he felt hot tracks of tears caressing his cheeks. Everything and everyone was connected. Everyone was equal and a part of something so much greater than he could ever fathom. Noctis has felt, seen and lived through some of the most precious and most painful situations in his short, thirty years of human life. But this, by far, was the most heartfelt, profound experience Noctis has come to known.
Odin, who until now only observed Noctis' reactions from afar, came closer and placed a hand on the younger soul's upper arm to soothe the agitated energy.
After Noctis got his bearings, he was able to clear his mind again. Though, he didn't want to let go of the acute compassion he felt toward all the people he's seen suffering and they were not knowing why.
"Now that I know of the Harvest, what exactly is my role in all of this?" he asked, still looking and feeling a bit harried by the revelation.
Odin's iridescent eyes were intent as the being spoke again. "Your task is to ensure your peoples wake up to the severity of the distortions that those continuing wars veil upon your world. The children of darkness are desperate to prolong their wealth, mighty power and mortal existence upon Eos and won't allow the natural progression of transformation to take place. It's not in our place to judge the decisions of your peoples, but we have heard their cries for guidance; we have heard Eos' plead for assistance. Time has come for the peoples of Eos to get off their knees and resolve the trauma and despair upon their world in order to move forward. Your task is to assist those children of light who seek guidance and for you to halt the children of darkness from defiling Eos' transcendence by further drowning and anchoring her essence to the third density plane of existence. Otherwise, this will bear disastrous consequences all over your galaxy."
Noctis furrowed his brows, trying to make sense of the information. "Will Eos, or parts of her, get destroyed if she doesn't reach the conclusion of her transformation?"
"Yes and no," Odin replied. "Eos, if still intact as a planetary whole, will reach fourth density with or without your peoples. To use an analogy of your world: the dog will grow old, die and be reborn; with, or without the fleas on his back. It's rather the potential of complete destruction that is of a true concern to us. The possibility of it happening in this timeline is worrisome and must be avoided by all means necessary."
"There's something I don't understand," Noctis said thoughtfully. "Ancient history spoke of the ancients, having perished because of the Infernian's rage upon humankind and leaving only destruction in his wake. Apparently, that was the reason why our civilization had to start anew. But now that you told me of Eos' ascension process, something just doesn't add up. What had truly happened in ancient Solheim?"
"The Infernian had been but a tool, his rage only a means to an end to the dubious achievements of the children of darkness. The intent has always been for the malady your peoples might know as Starscourge to spread and affect Eos' core itself. Young wanderer, you might think your saintly sacrifice has saved your peoples from that very darkness, but Eos is still to this very moment locked in the time/space continuum of third density. Despite the dawn having arrived upon your world, the future peoples of this timeline suffer greatly. Eos won't be able progressing the cycle of transformation, because, as we speak, the children of darkness have reached their ultimate directive: soul entrapment and soul enslavement upon your world and beyond."
Hearing this got Noctis instantly furious, the unimaginable worry for his dearest friends and family in the forefront of his mind. "How can that be?! I thought with the Usurpator and the Starscourge forever gone, people of Eos would finally be able of living in peace. Didn't I fulfill the prophecy? The Astrals didn't mention anything beyond that to me."
"The fourth density beings your peoples may call Astrals don't have insight into the higher planes of existence and therefore, they are sealed off from the information above their own rank and power. As a result, the prophecy they gained had been incomplete. The mind/body/spirit complex you may call Ardyn has been, just as the Infernian himself, nothing but another pawn on the chess board to the children of darkness. The Usurpator's thirst for revenge had been staged unbeknownst to him in ancient times," Odin stated.
"Bloody hell, that makes sense now...," Noctis whispered to himself. No matter how often he thought about it in the past, he couldn't find the answer as to why Ardyn would want to destroy his own lineage and simultaneously get rid of the Crystal and the benevolent Astrals. Unless... Ardyn had been lured, enticed and tricked into it by someone else: someone more dangerous with much higher and ulterior motives. By someone, who was capable of sharing sensitive information beyond the Astrals scope of awareness and directing their focus upon a rigged, half-baked revelation.
"Tell me about those children of darkness. Who are they?" Noctis needed to know.
Odin only smiled that delicate smile of his and said, "This information is yours to figure out, young one. We wouldn't want to infringe upon your free will."
Right, it didn't matter. Noctis would find those people and stop them anyway.
"How am I able to assist? I need clear instructions. I don't care who you are, this time around I won't let myself get blindly led into situations I have no control over. Tell me everything you can. Innocent people have died because of my past ignorance and I won't let that happen again," Noctis said firmly.
"Very well," the otherworldly being said and gave him a soft yet bright smile. "You have come far, young wanderer. Your past, present and future sacrifice shall not be in vain. Listen closely, this will be your first undertaking..."
And Noctis listened. It turned out there were other Astral-like beings currently on Eos. Odin told him some of them were higher beings of fifth and of sixth density and in their original homes they were known as Guardian Forces and Aeons, who have come forward to assist Eos. Unfortunately, their arrival had been foreseen by the dark forces and the Six have been intercepted, captured by an unknown technology, hidden away and then taken in brutal imprisonment by the children of darkness. Those Six from the foreign dimension await the arrival of the King of Kings to release them so that they can fulfill their own destiny and aid Eos in the Harvest.
The powerful Six are known in their current incarnation as Phoenix, the Reborn; Alexander, the Holy Magistrate; Eden, the Eternal; Diabolos, the Dark Messenger; Anima, Keeper of Lethe; and finally, Odin, the Reaver, himself.
All Noctis had to do was infiltrating the higher ranks of Solheim's secret Ascension Program to glean more information. As he watched Odin in front him vanishing into the light, Noctis could only hope that Ardyn and Quicksilver would agree to this clever plan as well.
...
Noctis felt beat and worn-out when several hands pulled him out of the gooey substance. He endured the unfamiliar hands on him, which all seemed to have some kind of sterile gloves on as they prodded along his nude body and washed and dried his skin thoroughly with utmost care. The breathing apparatus finally came off, so he turned his head to the side and coughed painfully a few times until he acclimated to the sterile and humid environment and he was able to breathe normally again.
What were all these people doing to him? Noctis could hardly see his surroundings, his eyes bleary and sticky from the foreign substance, until someone took pity on him and gently cleaned his face with a damp, soft towel as well. Now able to open his eyes, he couldn't make out the people's faces inside their yellow-colored decontamination suits. They came in a group of four, while three of them apparently were tasked with cleaning him up while the fourth and tallest one stood at the side and made notes to record the procedures on some papers.
But then, one of the strange people to his left moved aside and Noctis could see they were not alone. He widened his eyes in recognition as he looked past the see-through wall of shatterproof glass. Solheim's leaders and generals had gathered in the observation room next to him to watch and follow the proceedings.
Why? What the heck was going on?
Noctis' physical body still wouldn't respond to his will to move, no matter how hard he tried. A paradox situation, seeing how the people inside the safety suits did have no trouble lifting his arms and legs and prodding all around him how they pleased.
When his eyes happened to scan the other side of the room, his eyes immediately fell on the sensory deprivation chamber. Noctis then felt himself getting sick to his stomach. The chamber was liquid-filled with the gooey mass of the Starscourge itself. Hell, the sight of the bubbly, dark mass alone made him ill. He could feel his heart beats increasing, he gasped for air as his chest began heaving heavily and dark spots appeared before his eyes; yep, he was close to fall unconscious from the shock.
The people inside their decontamination suits took notice of Noctis' struggles and they hurried to keep him conscious.
"Hurry up! We're losing him!" someone next to him said.
Various hands prodded around him and the breathing apparatus came back on.
But it was already too late, Noctis let oblivion taking over his body once more. His last thought was that he should probably get used of fainting like this all the time...
...
"Our champion is finally awake, I see."
Noctis struggled opening his eyes, but at least he didn't feel sick anymore. He tried not to think about the thing that made him hyperventilate and faint in the first place. Wherever he was now, the room was silent and the bed he was lying on was soft. It was comfortably warm and dry and he had finally some clothes on. Noctis stubbornly felt like staying like this forever. Kind of a childish notion, but he liked to pretend he was a kid at the moment. At least back then he had known nothing of his dark future.
A husky, deep voice chuckled and Noctis felt the back of a man's hand stroking his cheek in gentle motions. That's when he opened his eyes and met light blue ones, staring curiously, almost reverently so, into his own.
"Why, aren't you a beauty? What did I ever do to deserve such a treasure trove like you?" the man almost breathed, his gentle caresses gliding slowly downward underneath Noctis' chin. The man gripped his chin a tad more forcefully when no answer came and he seemed content with the discovery that Noctis wouldn't fight back.
Noctis shuddered and that's when he realized his unkempt beard had been completely shaved. Those battle-scarred, long fingers stroked over his Adam's apple and then stopped further down at the seam of Noctis' new clothes. The man's fingers playfully opened two of the first buttons, boldly stroking the sensitive skin underneath the collar, but at Noctis' fierce glare the stranger retreated, looking fairly amused at Noctis' expense before taking a few more steps back.
Noctis observed the tall stranger, who had shoulder length, silver hair, a tanned complexion and clothes that Noctis could only identify as Solheim's military clothes. He was immediately reminded of a more healthy and vibrant looking Ravus as he watched the familiar looking mannerisms in front of him. This man was a general, he would recognize the design from Niflheim's past replica of that very same clothes. Albeit, this man's combat suit seemed far superior in terms of raw, defensive power. Back home, Ravus hadn't had that same dangerous aura surrounding him, of that Noctis was sure.
The silver-haired man smirked a little and tilted his head slightly to the side. "I could barely wait to meet you. You have no idea what dreadful things I had to do so that I would be allowed to meet you all alone."
Noctis couldn't move nor speak, so he stared intently at the man, hoping the older one would get the message. Who the hell was that?
"You want to know who I am?" Solheim's general asked playfully, but there was something darker lurking underneath his obvious facade.
Either way, Noctis wished he could roll his eyes or nod in confirmation. He always has known he wasn't capable of long or proper, intelligent or entertaining conversations, but bloody hell, did he have to lose his voice, too? Then, how in the world could he communicate his thoughts with others?
"We can communicate like this, if you wish."
Noctis almost jumped out of his skin - if he could move, that is. "You can read my mind?!" he asked via his mind, completely taken by surprise.
The general laughed out loud, his husky voice simultaneously reverberating through Noctis' mind. "Don't look that surprised. Someone in this damn place had to learn the skill of telepathy. None of those old fools, who right now are on their way back to the Capital, would have had the patience necessary for it. Somebody reliable had to command our future army of daehumans, after all."
A cold shiver passed Noctis' body. "Daehumans? Is this what I am now? Is this what you've done to me?"
"I wish I knew... your DNA transmutation astounded all of us. You're nothing like the mindless serial killer those old fools imagined you to become," the man said aloud, staring at Noctis as if he were a wondrous puzzle to be solved. A familiar look, which reminded Noctis somewhat of Ardyn when he had met him a few days ago...
"To be entirely honest with you, I don't want to leave you here. Not at the mercy of those power-hungry madmen working around here. You seem far too valuable for their unethical experiments and examinations, wouldn't you agree?"
"Why do you care? And stop beating around the bush and tell me, who are you?" Noctis asked, some foolish hope rising inside of him that he could get more information about Solheim's goals and in turn, getting more details about the secret Ascension Program.
The general's eyes grew larger. "You know of the Ascension Program? How? Who told you?"
Crap, he forgot that the man could read his thoughts.
The general chuckled.
"How about we trade answers? I'll only answer your questions if you answer mine," Noctis said, fully aware of his own disadvantage but still willing to risk it.
"You're brave. You're the first one daring to make a deal with the devil himself," the general said aloud, his unnerving gaze almost penetrating Noctis' eyes. "Very well, people know me by the name of General Safay Roth."
That name sounded familiar. General Safay Roth... where had Noctis heard of that name before? And then he remembered. But he refused to deepen his thoughts about that topic and cleared his mind to the best of his ability.
"Fascinating, you don't fear me, nor the people I do represent," General Roth said. "Now that you seem to know who I am, tell me who you are. You have intrigued me the moment I laid my eyes on you."
How to answer? Noctis had to be very careful.
"You may call me Noctis. This is all you'll get to know about myself until I know I can trust you," Noctis said. He thought this was a plausible reply considering his current circumstances.
"I honor the condition you stated. You're lucky you've fallen into my hands. Others wouldn't have been that understanding," answered General Roth.
"Why do I get the feeling, you're not completely loyal to Solheim's leaders?" Noctis asked.
The older man snorted. "Your sublime ability of observation startles me. You're right, let's be open with each other. I'm not loyal to those fools, I never was. I follow my own agenda."
"Which is?" Noctis asked, the embers of hope blazing much brighter than before.
General Roth quirked the corner of his lips into a light smile, and this time it was a genuine one. "Why, finding out what Solheim is truly up to, of course. Like yourself, I'd like to know what's going on in the Ascension Program. Nothing good can come out of that one and I'd like to stop it."
For one moment, Noctis forgot how to breathe. So the famous General of ancient Solheim, the one whom Niflheim had idolized and regarded oh so highly as one of their own kind, had not been loyal to Solheim's corrupt leaders at all. Noctis felt like laughing at the sheer irony. The emperor of Niflheim, Iedolas Aldercapt himself, had named their Magiteck Engines after General Roth – SAF.
But any additional amusement that Noctis felt at that moment immediately withered and died. The general's next words froze him to the spot - which he kind of was anyway, but that wasn't the point he wanted to make.
"Congratulations, you just managed to intrigue me even more. How about this: I'll bring us a cup of coffee and then I'll release you from the binding spell you're currently under. Seems like we will have a nice, long and proper conversation and for that you'll need to have your voice back, won't you? You mentioned wanting to polish your conversation skills, so how about we start today and you tell me about that riveting future you are supposedly coming from?"
...
to be continued.