The Moment of Truth
We chased Hermes to Ktisis Hyperboreia, where he had sought refuge with Meteion. We fought our way through the many environments that made up the interior of the facility, up to the very top. There, among the simulated dark expanse beyond our star, awaited the end of Meteion's report that Hermes so desired, well as a revelation...A revelation of the end.
And so it begins...
A loud cry echoed through the vast emptiness around them as Hermes crumbled to the ground. He tried to rise back up, but his transformed body began to ripple and collapse around him, leaving only his regular, panting form. "Impossible..." he gasped out, his green eyes growing wide as they landed on S'eni. "...even after I transformed...?"
"It's over, Hermes," Emet-Selch said, dismissing the blade he had summoned forth and stepping forward. "In the name of the Convocation, I am taking Meteion into custody. You are coming along as well. You will be thoroughly questioned so we can assess this situation, chosen successor of Fandaniel or not!"
Hermes stared at the four of them for a few long seconds, before releasing a resigned sigh. It was over. Slowly, he managed to get back on his feet and turn around towards Meteion, who had watched everything that transpired with emotionless eyes.
"I'm sorry...that I could not hear your report to the very end, Meteion," he said and began taking a few steps towards her. "I would have reflected on and shared it with the others. So that they could see their chosen course in a new light and reconsider it. But I was too weak, so that wish will never be realized. So let me ask you one final question before our fate takes its course: was there truly no place...where you found hope? The meaning of life or...at least some enjoyment of it?"
The girl did not reply at first, simply looking ahead impassively, until her lips finally parted and her head tilted towards the simulated void above them. "We have done what you instructed us to do. We studied historical records and communed with the spirits of the deceased. We also heard many a last word...and gazed into shadowed hearts..."
Lowering her head again, Meteion looked straight at Hermes and started to walk towards him. As she did so, black mist began to surround her. The very same S'eni had seen turn so many poor souls into bloodthirsty creatures.
"One race strived to create a world without animosity. To avoid strife, they began to avoid relationships and ultimately died away in loneliness. Another race devoted itself entirely to the enrichment of its people. Until they were conquered, and though they managed to defeat their enemy, they never returned to their former glory. Yet another race viewed finite time as the source of all suffering, so it sought infinity. But they discovered that nothing can ever escape the ultimate end. Bereft of their hope, they followed all that came before them into the abyss. And yet another race freed themselves of sorrow and all other suffering. But joy lost its savor in the absence of sorrow; the beginning of their miserable end." Meteion stopped, her cold gaze moving over every one of them, lingering briefly on S'eni before settling on Hermes. "They all, as different as they were, tried their best. Their voices, emotions, and legends stood testimony to that. And they all learned the truth in the end..."
The mist began to engulf her, swirling around like a dark, cruel storm. Her eyes glowed briefly through the thick blackness, staring at them until the mist dissipated to reveal Meteion once more. Skin and eyes as pale as ash, and her hair, feathers, and even clothes having turned pitch black.
"...despair, sorrow, anger, fear, and loneliness...will never cease. Even now, in this very moment, their souls cry out for oblivion. And to this song of anguish—"
S'eni's hand shot up to her mouth as realization finally struck. The threat from the beyond stars, the voice she had heard... "...it's her."
"—we will lend our voice...so that all can find salvation. Our beloved friends and all the shimmering life of this beautiful star, they all shall be freed from the shackles of this meaningless existence. Salvation from oblivion, a beautiful, unbending silence," Meteion said, and for the first time since starting her report, her voice rang with emotion. A sick delight. With a smile she raised her hands skyward. "On the edge of the universe, we will make our nest...and hoard sorrow and suffering. So that our song may ring ever clearer and bring this aether-shrouded star to the end. That is the answer we have found among the stars. Our gift for Etheirys."
"Who are you to decree our fate!?" Emet-Selch demanded. "Our lives belong to no one but us!"
"We need to stop her!" S'eni shouted and made to run over to Meteion, only to feel herself being yanked backwards. Glancing down at her arm, she saw an aetheric chain wrapped around it. "Wha—"
Hermes raised his staff and, within the blink of an eye, more chains shot forth and wound around her entire body in an instant, lifting her off the ground and suspending her mid-air. The others, too, were caught by the spell, leaving them all struggling to break free. Emet-Selch grit his teeth. "Are you out of your mind!? She means to destroy us all! How can you still take her side!?"
"We judge every creation for the good of this star. And if it is deemed flawed, we discard it," Hermes replied. "But if we too are flawed, would it not be right and proper if we are discarded as well?"
"That is lunacy!"
"Perhaps. It is quite possible I am wrong. But the same could be said about you."
"Hermes...don't," S'eni pleaded, but he made no signs of doing so as he turned around.
"So let us settle this with a determination. Here in Elpis we research life. And as the chief overseer of this facility I will put our right to existence to the test...Should there be those, who cling to life, who cherish it...then it should be simple to stop the coming end. If not, we shall all perish," he said, and began to raise his staff anew. "And as with all of our experiments, we must ensure fairness. Kairos! Awaken!"
She struggled viciously against the chains, in hopes of still making him see sense, but stopped when Hermes said that name. Her mind immediately rushed back to when she had heard it before, being offhandedly mentioned during the report about the Lykaones. Kairos, the system he created to alter memories. He was going to wipe theirs!
A giant, sundial-like structure appeared up ahead, covered in symbols and an engraved sun and moon that formed a half-open eye that passively stared up ahead. "Memory reconfiguration system Kairos activated," it spoke in a metallic voice. "Awaiting instructions."
"A universal memory erasure and modification for the entire Hyperboreia. The time period between the arrival of Emet-Selch of the Convocation at Propylaion and now is to be erased," Hermes ordered. "They are to be replaced by these vague recollections: we were here so that I could demonstrate the functionality of Kairos to Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus. While I was doing so, Meteion's shared consciousness became unstable. She could no longer sustain her existence and she dissipated with a burst alongside her sisters. The resulting shockwave accidentally triggered Kairos, which erased the memory of the last few days from everyone present."
"Command acknowledged. Initializing... Three processes remaining to execution."
"Very clever. I doubt one could make it any fairer than this..." Hythlodaeus said.
"Yes..." S'eni struggled some more, to no avail. "Our meeting, what I told you, Meteion's change. It will all be gone..."
And she would still be aimlessly searching for the cause of the Final Days...
Hermes turned around to face Meteion. "Go now. To the edge of the universe, where none can reach you."
"Shall I take you along, Hermes?" Meteion asked, a sinister smile in her voice. "If you rid yourself of your flesh, I should be able to carry you."
"No. I will remain to oppose the oblivion you wish to bring," he replied.
"Oh you silly creature...if you had said yes, I would have granted you a gentle end."
With a sudden cry, Venat managed to break free of her shackles and rushed forward, blade in hand. "I won't allow it!" she shouted and jumped at Meteion, only to be blocked by Hermes' magic.
"Fly, Meteion!" he cried over his shoulder, and the girl took off.
"Enough of this!" Emet-Selch growled, his red sigil forming in front of his face, and with a sudden burst their chains came undone, dropping them on the ground. He summoned forth a staff and held it out towards the chief overseer. "That is far enough, Hermes!"
Sensing her opportunity as Emet-Selch went on the attack, Venat jumped back and hurried towards the edge of the platform. "Argos, to me!" she called out and jumped off, landing on top of her trusty familiar to give chase.
"First process complete. Two processes remaining to execution of memory reconfiguration."
"Time is running short..." Hythlodaeus said as another Kairos appeared to their right. "S'eni, listen to me. You cannot forget what happened today. It is the key to saving your future!"
"But what about you?"
"This is part of our story. What happens now is our problem, not yours." He locked eyes with her. "You have your own battle to fight. One only you can wage."
S'eni stared into his eyes. The jolly humor reflected in them all the time was gone now. For once he was deadly serious, and above all, he was right. She couldn't forget what happened today. Y'shtola and all the others were counting on her; their entire world did. She nodded.
"Best to get creative then. How am I getting out of here?" she asked.
Hythlodaeus smiled and rose to his feet, offering her his hand. "I will assist you with that," he said and, after helping her up, turned to the left. "Now then where is it...? Ah, there it is."
They hurried over to the edge of the platform and Hythlodaeus was just raising his hand to point ahead, when his eyes snapped up, face growing dark. S'eni followed his gaze towards the shimmering shooting star ascending higher and higher. Meteion.
"She escaped," he said.
"Second process complete. One remaining to execution."
"Well, no time for brooding. Listen well, just before us lies a spatial confluence that connects all arwas of the Hyperboreia. I will destroy it and open a way outside," he explained, and summoned forth his bow and readied it. "When I do, you must jump through it."
"...I cannot let you escape!" Hermes voice suddenly cried out and S'eni felt a gust of wind coming towards them, no, towards Hythlodaeus!
"Watch out!" she jumped in front of Hythlodaeus, crossing her arms to absorb the brunt of the spell. The impact knocked her off her feet, hurtling her through the air...and over the edge.
Falling past the other floating platforms, she descended towards the clouds and closed her eyes. Was this going to be it? Falling to her death in the far flung past?
Strangely fitting, I suppose, she thought...
...
...
...and her ears suddenly perked up. ...Unless!
Her eyes shot open and she reached out her arm just in time to take ahold of golden glowing fur. Using the momentum, she swung herself on top of her furry friend's back and smiled. "Argos!" she said and rubbed his neck.
"I knew I could count on your reflexes," she heard Venat say, shortly followed by her appearing atop her own Argos.
"And my ears."
A shattering explosion from above made them both look up.
"Looks like the distraction worked."
"Distraction?" S'eni asked.
"Let's just say my dear successor seems to have rubbed off on those two. Come, we need to hurry!"
With all the speed both Argoses could muster, they shot up through the sky back towards the platform and above it, right towards the newly created hole that would lead them outside. As they passed by them, she briefly glanced down to Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus. "There's no time! Quickly!" the former shouted while the latter waved. "I still do not believe your tale. I would never sink so low. But still, let me tell you one thing..."
Gold eyes met hers.
"...do not squander what you have been entrusted with."
She gasped out, her hand reaching forward despite knowing he was too far away. A sudden burning made her slam her eyes shut to quell the feeling, and when she opened them, a single name passed her lips, echoing from deep within her soul. "Hades!"
Emet-Selch's eyes widened momentarily, but his expression swiftly turned into that infuriating smirk of his.
"Final process complete. Executing universal memory alteration."
"Go, Argos!" Venat shouted as Kairos began to glow and the sundial rapidly turned backwards. With one final push, just as light began to flood the artificial area, they pushed through the confluence.
Releasing a small chuckle, Emet-Selch smiled as the brightness claimed him.
As they emerged from the Hyperboreia, S'eni and Venat were immediately greeted by the beautiful, star-filled sky. But the sight was marred by the fact that, somewhere out there, Meteion was making her way towards her sisters. To build their nest and, to one day, usher in the Final Days.
It left a bitter taste in her mouth, to say the least.
They slowly floated towards Philomythes Notos and touched down upon it far to the east of Anagnorisis. As soon as they did, Venat dismounted and walked a few steps, before collapsing on the ground. S'eni immediately rushed over to her and knelt down.
"Are you alright!?"
"I'm fine. Just a little tired," the other woman said. After taking a few deep breaths, she looked out towards the sky. "Is it really true? Are we the only ones left that see beauty in their world—in life? Are the stars no more than candles marking the graves of those who succumbed to despair?"
"I don't know..." she replied earnestly. Even in her time, the only contact of the wider universe they had were the dragons, and Midgardsomr had ultimately fled his world as well in search of a new home.
"'Twas the last bastion of hope," he had once told a young Vrtra. But did that truly mean there were no other worlds left in that endless sea of stars?
"Yes, I suppose no one does." Venat sighed. "Meteion is already unimaginably distant. Far beyond Etheirys. And yet, I can still sense her presence—as well as the place we must one day follow her to."
"How?" S'eni asked.
"Just before she escaped, I managed to mark her with a spell that will help us follow her trail. Given the vastness of the universe though, it will be no easy feat to track her down. But thanks to Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus we can still remember what happened. And through our memories, hope shall live on."
"Yes..." she exhaled and the corners of her lips rose into a small smile. "I suppose you're right."
The other woman mirrored the expression.
"So what now?"
"Good question. Let us begin with ascertaining the situation at Ktisis Hyperboreia. The others should still be there." Venat rose back to her feet, and she followed suit. "However, we should avoid approaching them directly. At least until we know the state of their memories. In which case..."
They both turned towards Argos, who had long since fused together with his copy once more. The dog looked at them with bright blue eyes and tilted his head. Venat walked over to him.
"I'm sorry, my friend," she said and patted him. "but I have to ask you for one last favor. Afterwards you can rest as much as you want."
Argos barked and took to the sky, heading towards Ktisis Hyperboreia. Venat then turned around and explained, "We will share in his consciousness. See what he sees, and hear what he hears. Now, close your eyes and open your mind..."
Doing as she was told, S'eni cast her mind out, following the golden trail that was Argos's presence until her senses had fully aligned with his. She saw as he landed near the entrance of the Hyperboreia, where the staff had gathered in a large group. And, having just come out of the doors, Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus and Hermes as well, the latter looking quite worse for the wear.
"Thank goodness, nothing happened to you," one of the scholars said.
"Nothing happened?!" Emet-Selch shot back, shifting a little to better support Hermes. "Our memory was wiped! Everything that's happened since my arrival is gone!"
"It is all my fault..." Hermes grimaced at the movement. "I was explaining to our guests how Kairos operated. But Meteion...her shared consciousness became unstable...she..."
"I see, so that is what prompted the state of alert," the scholar said. "And everyone inside was affected?"
"Looks like it. I can scarcely even remember the incident itself," Emet-Selch replied.
"How horrible. What of Venat and your other companion?"
White eyebrows shot up. "Venat was with us?"
He looked over to Hythlodaeus, who shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I cannot remember. But that is her familiar, is it not?" he turned his head to look at Argos. "He doesn't seem particularly worried to me. She must be fine, then. I do not know who this other person is you speak of, though..."
"Ah, well...she seemed quite...different, for want of a better word. Perhaps she was a familiar as well?"
"Curious..." he furrowed his brow for a brief second, before smiling. "I suppose I shall just have to ask her the next time we meet."
"What does it matter, we need to take care of Hermes right now. Whatever this Meteion did, he clearly took the brunt of it," Emet-Selch said and looked at the man in question. "Once you are fit for travel, you will return with us to Amaurot. We have to make sure that there are no other ill effects. I also have a message from the Fourteen for you. We most likely spoke about it already, but since I can't remember, we'll have to do so again."
"Of course..." Hermes said. "I apologize for the inconvenience..."
"This Kairos—it manipulates memories through emissions of aetheric waves, correct?" Hythlodaeus wondered. "Some hold the theory that erased memories of this kind are restored when the soul is cleansed in the Underworld. So perhaps we might remember one day, even if it's only after our time has come."
Emet-Selch scoffed. "It was only a few days, and I very much doubt anything of interest occurred. When I return to the star, I'd much rather reminisce on more meaningful moments."
Having seen enough, S'eni pulled her mind back and slowly opened her eyes. As her senses became her own again, she noticed that her hands had hardened into fists, and she forced herself to relax with a sigh. "I guess we have our answers."
"Indeed," Venat agreed and exhaled deeply, the exhaustion returning to her face. "We should rest. If only for a little while. After all, we still have a long, long way to go..."
"Yeah..." S'eni nodded. That they did.
They walked over to a nearby tree and sat down beneath it. Running a hand over her face, she closed her eyes and simply listened to the wind. As seconds turned into minutes, she felt fatigue slowly set in as her body started to calm down from the day's events. Gods, what she wouldn't give for a nice, comfortable bed right now, but that would have to wait until she was back in her own time.
After a few more minutes, Venat broke the silence. "May I ask you a favor?"
"What is it?"
"When you told me about your adventures, you repeatedly mentioned the names of your companions. Would you please tell me about them?"
Opening her eyes again, S'eni cast her gaze across the beautiful area in front of her. Her hand ran idly through the grass underneath her, picking a few blades.
"I met most of them years ago, though after all that's happened it might as well have been a lifetime. Back then I had just started out as an adventurer. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine what awaited me," she said and smiled slightly. "There's Thancred who, when we first met, was quite a ladies' man. Heh, he even tried to woo me. But he's matured a lot and I doubt you'll find anyone more reliable than him. Then there's Urianger, who spends most of his time with his nose buried in one book or another, so much so that he sounds like an ancient tome. And though he had a problem with keeping things to himself in the past, I know he will always do the right thing. Krile who, like I, was blessed by Hydaelyn. She still struggles with the legacy left to her by her grandfather, but I know she can do it."
She gently ran her thumb over the grass in her hand.
"Estinien, a bit of a solitary fellow, but a good man. His life was dedicated to nothing but vengeance once. It took a while, but I think he's finally at peace with himself now. Lyse who always follows her heart. She isn't with us anymore, having chosen to rebuild her home country, but she'll always be a part of us. Once a Scion, always a Scion." Her smile grew and warm fondness entered her voice. "The twins, Alphinaud and Alisaie. I think it's not wrong to say they are the heart of our group, striving for a better world even when it puts them at odds with their own father. And speaking of hearts, there's Tataru. Without her, I'm sure the Scions would have long since gone bankrupt. She also scares me sometimes, just a little. Raha, whom I met during an expedition into the very same structure that allowed me to travel here. An earnest soul who broke through the barriers of time to rewrite history and, in doing so, not only saved the world...but me as well. And then there's Shtola..."
A wistful sigh escaped her and she closed her eyes, letting the image of her lover's smile inside her mind give her much needed comfort.
"...where do I even start with her? She's stubborn and possesses a tongue sharper than any blade. She is intelligent and enjoys nothing more than to learn new things about the world. If she was here right now she'd be beside herself in barely contained excitement. But above all, there is no one else that understands me as much as she does. I love her. With all my heart." Slowly, she raised her hand and watched as a gust of wind picked up the blades of grass in her hand, carrying them off into the evening. "They, and many more, are the reason I fight. My anchor when times are difficult; my shining light in the dark. And they are worth everything."
Venat, who had quietly listened up to this, smiled and looked at her. "I am glad that you have such loyal companions. But that makes it all the more important that you return to them and share what you have learned."
"I know." She nodded and began to rise. "I shouldn't remain any longer than I need to."
"Then allow me to see you to the Propylaion."
Together, they began to head in the direction of the place where her journey into the past had started. As they passed by Anagnorisis, S'eni stopped briefly to look at it. Frown forming on her face, she asked, "What do you think Hermes is going to do now?"
"He will blame himself. He will believe that if not for his dissatisfaction with the world, the Meteia would have never been born to suffer and die," replied and they began walking again. "To join the Fourteen will likely be a welcome distraction, and one day in the future, he will face the Final Days as Fandaniel."
After some more time, they arrived at the doors of the Propylaion and S'eni turned to face Venat. "Well...this is where we must part."
Venat nodded. "May you and your companions emerge triumphant. Make use of the knowledge you gained. So that your time here in Elpis and our friends' sacrifice was not in vain."
"I will," she promised.
"Meteion is somewhere out there. So it will only be a matter of time until the Final Days are upon us," Venat said, her gaze turning towards the starry sky. "We must be ready. From fortifying our defenses to securing our escape, there is much to be done. All in secrecy, of course. If knowledge of the fates of all those stars would reach the masses, I'm afraid we might play directly in Meteion's hand. No, only those I know can carry this burden can be told about it."
"What about the Fourteen?"
"Ordinally, I wouldn't hesitate to call upon them. But it was Hermes's desire for a fair determination that drove him to erase our memory. It is difficult to tell how he might react if he learned the truth, and we cannot afford more enemies. But if we leave him and the Convocation out, it would prove difficult to devise countermeasures. Quite a dilemma...which leaves me with little choice than to act independently of the Fourteen." Venat sighed and looked back at S'eni. "Regardless of how we proceed, if we wish to permanently avert the Final Days, we must meet Hermes's challenge and prove that mankind is worthy to exist. It will hinge on how we confront the all-consuming despair that accompanies a senseless and seemingly inevitable end. If we just sit and wait, we will suffer the same fate as countless stars before us. Neither would we survive the Final Days, nor stand a chance to defeat Meteion. We must find a way to face despair—and prepare as many people as possible for the struggle ahead."
"Yes..." S'eni crossed her arms. "It's not going to be easy."
"I know. But I have always believed in our potential. It far outweighs our flaws. And that is why I will not give up." Bright blue eyes sought out hers. "The world in which you return might be very different. Or perhaps nothing will have changed due to the erasure of our friends' memories. We cannot know until the moment is at hand. So I shall take nothing for granted and always strive to do my best. And I pray you do the same. Walk with me—to the very end. As you move forward, so too will I. And those who endeavor to fight for the future shall walk alongside us. And when we have found the strength to stand against despair...we shall silence the song of oblivion. She who sings it will learn that our journey is far from over."
The other woman smiled, and S'eni mirrored it with one of her own.
"That is my promise to you," Venat said warmly. "Farewell, my light of the future...till we meet again."
"Farewell, Venat." Turning around, S'eni walked into the Propylaion, coming to a stop near the center of the room. As soon as she stopped, she could feel something tug at her very being, calling her back to where she belonged. She glanced over her shoulder to look at the other woman one final time, when her vision began to ripple and blur.
And with a flash of bright white, she was pulled back.
Well, my fellow Warriors of Light. What did yours shout as they escaped from the Hyperboreia?