Chapter 8: Hope?

"Ephenia, where did you find the Alcove Dew?" Dane asked, looking over a self-made map of the Victarani Province. Using Haim's tree as the center, he mapped out the province for nearly a year. During his travels, Dane searched for a place to serve as the ideal spot away from most civilizations to study the world's Darkness. At the same time, he marked sites where rare and powerful herbs, saps, and flowers were located.

"It should be near the Kernala outskirts where some rather unusual air-breathing sea creatures live. Why do you ask?" Ephenia floated down from the shelf she attended where Dane's research scrolls and journals were neatly stored. Setting a hand on Dane's shoulder, she looked over the map and current magical formula he was working on.

"It is just a theory, but I believe the Alcove Dew may have what I need to extract the Darkness."

"You said Haim told you that was dangerous. I thought you said we would counter it instead?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. Dane sighed long and slow, looking to the map once again and counting out how many days it would take him to reach Kernala.

"I did say that countering it was our only option. But I cannot accept that reality. I am certain there is a way not only to extract it, but to vanquish it at the same time." Ephenia slowly sat down next to him, looking up to his face.

"Didn't Haim say Darkness needed to be put somewhere or have the hurts be counseled? You are powerful for a human, but even you have your limits." Ephenia pressed, furrowing her brow. Even for a deity, dabbling in this Darkness was a dangerous feat. It would be one-hundred-fold more hazardous for a human.

"I believe through the power of Light, the Darkness of the World can be eliminated." Ephenia felt a shiver in her soul: using the power of Light directly might work, but even with her limited understanding of the Darkness, she knew it would be much more stubborn than that. Haim said as much.

"Are you sure that it will work?" she asked. Dane grinned and looked back to the map, a sure sign that even he didn't know.

"It's been a year since I was finally able to let myself heal, to let go of the pain of Menodora and let you in. Your Light has melted away my Darkness and strengthened my Light. If I can harness that, I should be able to simultaneously extract and vanquish the Darkness."

"Hasn't your research found that only the Ultimate Light can do that?"

"Yes, and thanks to you, I believe I have found that once again." He grinned, putting his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him, and pressing his lips to hers.

"But, what if there is still some small bit of Darkness within us? Would that hamper our efforts?" Ephenia asked, putting her hands on his chest.

"The world's Darkness is only getting worse and needs to be dealt with now."

"Don't assume that what needs to be done takes precedence over your own heart, Dane. It takes time to heal wounds like that." She insisted.

"I think you've forgotten how long a year is for us humans." Dane teased with a smile. "I have healed as much as I think I ever will, and I have accepted that there may be a tiny speck of Darkness within me for all eternity." He grinned, kissing her lips once again. "And now that I have healed, I feel that time is running out for us to correct this imbalance," Dane spoke in a voice that was almost a whisper sending nervous chills running down Ephenia's back. Closing her eyes, she breathed slow and deeply, wishing she could do to detour Dane from this path. She felt as if he were taking a road that she couldn't follow but knew it must be done.

"I can alter time in a single place if that would help." Ephenia offered, opening her eyes and looking directly into the cutting blue of Dane's.

"I fear that would distort the results of my experiments. I don't plan on extracting it all at once; as you said, even I have my limits." He replied.

"I will find the answer. I almost have it." He breathed. Ephenia sighed, trying to suppress the uneasy feeling in her heart. She had been watching the coming disaster. Unfortunately, she still couldn't find the driving force behind the tragedy, no matter how she widened her gaze.

"What if you were to talk to my brother Nanahuatzin? He is the Deity of Light, and I believe he can channel the Ultimate Light." Dane nodded in understanding, a light of revelation shining in his eyes.

"Yes, that would be a great help. The Deity of Light should be able to eradicate the Darkness with ease." Ephenia hoped the smile in his voice meant she had coaxed him away from dealing with the Darkness directly. Dane pulled away and began looking over his map again, trying to figure out where Nanahuatzin's main temple would be. Ephenia stayed back, turning her thoughts to what the Mirror of Time had shown her. The Great Disaster, a billowing mass of dark clouds, warring peoples, and death; so much death.

There was one glimmer of hope, one tiny chance to avoid this dark path; she had to convince Dane not to pursue purging the world of Darkness and find another to take up his cause. Not knowing what caused the Great Disaster made the chance even slimmer, but it was one the goddess was willing to take.

"Would you be willing to persuade your brother to grant me an audience?" Dane asked. Ephenia grinned and nodded, walking to him and kissing his forehead.

"I will. I'll be back in a little while." She soothed, laying down in their nest-like bed and closing her eyes as her mind returned to her original body. Once he was sure she had gone, Dane's face became blank as he took out a journal and a bottle from his sleeve. Within the bottle was a swirling black mist, scraping against the glass with invisible claws.

"I can pull small bits like you from the world. But it is not enough." He hissed as he pulled off the cork. The mist within the bottle surged out, swirling in the air before him like a snake ready to strike. Dane lifted his arm as streaks of light gathered in his palm.

"I will cleanse you from this world," Dane said to the cloud, which turned its narrowed eyes to him, dozens of indecipherable whispers filling the air around them.

"You're out of your depth, little mage." The cloud growled before lunging at him.


"You have quite the proposal, White Mage," Nanahuatzin said from behind a grandly embellished screen, his voice reverberating through the magnificent throne room. Putting a hand to his chest, Dane bowed low.

"Thank you, Great Nanahuatzin."

"However…" The deity announced. Dane looked up from under his brow to Nanahuatzin with disappointed agitation.

"I cannot do what you suggest," Dane growled in his throat as he stood to his full height.

"Didn't Ariel explain to you why I am seeking your assistance?" Dane asked with an edge in his voice.

"She did. But the Ultimate Light you speak of, while I am aware of its existence, is something I cannot channel or control. It is a light exclusive to humans." Dane tightened his fists as a flush of heat surfaced on his face.

"Then will you do nothing while the world is swallowed by The Darkness?"

"Believe me when I say that I have tried!" Nanahuatzin thundered, standing with force as his golden armor's spines fizzled with electricity. Dane shied away when he stood, realizing that he may have offended him. Taking a breath, Nanahuatzin stepped down from his throne towards the outer edge of the screen.

"This Darkness is not something that natural light in its purest form, my domain, can combat. At best, my light can only hold it back."

"My lord Nanahuatzin, I may be overstepping my bounds, but please do not step from behind your screen, or I shall be turned to dust at the very sight of you," Dane exclaimed, covering his face with his sleeve it hopes that he would at least delay his destruction.

"'Turned to dust,' you say? Have you spoken with my brother Haim?" Nanahuatzin asked, a devious grin in his voice.

"Yes. I fear that your light is too much for me." Dane answered when he heard a hearty laugh.

"You believe too easily, White Mage. Haim has been walking among humans for so long that he believes as they do. He may be the Deity of Life, but he has forgotten much in his time walking among them." He laughed as Dane lowered his sleeve to see Nanahuatzin dressed in kingly garb of red and gold. Pauldrons shaped as feathers sat on his shoulders, matching the bracers on his arms.

"Over the long millennia, humans of your world have created some rather interesting stories about us. I suppose it is expected as fewer and fewer actually believe in us despite what they say. It seems that Haim didn't tell you your biggest secret either; I'm surprised." Nanahuatzin smiled, walking to a small table where a few glasses and a pitcher of pale wine sat.

"What secret?" Dane asked with apprehension. Nanahuatzin sipped a mouthful from his glass as he walked over to Dane and offered him another.

"Haim is well aware of the Darkness. And he knows that neither he nor I can affect it in any meaningful way. So, he created a life that he brought to me. I then planted a bit of my light within that life. And when your mother and father consummated their marriage, that life was put within your mother's womb. This is why you are so acutely aware of the Darkness within the world. Haim and I gave you the power to find what will rid the world of the Darkness."

"You used me? You fated me to become what I am today?" Dane asked through gritted teeth.

"No, White Mage. Not in the least. We gave you the tools, an advantage, hoping that it would guide you to a path that would eliminate the Darkness. And here you stand, trying to find a way. You could still have chosen not to go down this path, but you were never fated to do anything."

"Then what about the ancient mage that came before me?" Asked Dane. Nanahuatzin raised a brow, stopping in mid-sip.

"I beg your pardon?" Dane reached into his sleeve and pulled from it the journal that had started him on his path, opening it to the pages that had captivated him so long ago.

"This ancient mage said that he too felt the Darkness and tried to find a way to beat it back or eliminate it. He tried to do the same thing that I am doing now." Dane answered, handing the book to him. Nanahuatzin looked over the weathered pages, quickly reading over some of the entries until he came to the page completely covered with black ink.

"Where in Usoria did you find this?" Nanahuatzin asked with a severe tone, closing the journal and looking over the battered front cover.

"I found it in the Great Knowledge Depository in my home city of Margata. It fell from a bookshelf along with a few others." Nanahuatzin's eyes were wide, and his hands shook slightly as he handed the journal back.

"There was no other that came before you. This journal is not from a time of the past." The deity answered quietly. Dane lowered his brow, regarding him with growing worry.

"How can you tell that it isn't from the past? I thought Ariel was the only one who could read or control time?" Dane asked. The deity sighed, crossing his arms.

"Everything that exists possesses a light. It is hard to explain…"

"Atomic Decay, is that what you mean?"

"Is that what you humans call it? In any case, everything that exists has this light. Everything, from the moment it is created to the time it is no more, gives off a light similar to everything around it. The same 'color' if you will. This journal's light is not fading, nor is it even the same kind. Its light does not belong here in this time, nor is it from the ancient past. It is not even a relic."

"Are you saying that this journal is from the future?" Dane asked, furrowing his brow.

"I can't say that with any amount of certainty. Ariel has told me that Time of the Past has happened and should never be trifled with. But the Time of the Future hasn't been written yet and is quite fluid. Any small thing could change it. This journal could have come from a time when you failed, and you are changing that future right now. If you want any amount of certainty, you must speak with Ariel of this."

"I shall," Dane said firmly, putting the journal back into his sleeve.

"Is there any insight that you could give me to know how to defeat the Darkness? I feel I have reached the end of my own understanding." Nanahuatzin smirked and nodded.

"Whether it was you or another, I knew this day would come." He answered with a smile. Holding his hand towards his throne, twelve intensely colored crystal shards floated over the screen towards them. Nanahuatzin then held his other hand forward as a staff appeared with a ring on either end. The crystals were then mounted onto the rings in a starburst pattern.

"This staff, the Shining Rod, uses these crystals to harness and focus the Ultimate Light you and Ariel share. As I said before, The Ultimate Light is something created exclusively by humans. If enough of it existed, I could use it. But alas, the world is growing darker, and it is getting harder and harder to find that light. I leave it to you, White Mage." Nanahuatzin said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"If Humans are the only ones able to produce this Ultimate Light, then how is it that Ariel and I share it if she is a goddess?" Dane asked. Nanahuatzin lowered his gaze, squeezing his shoulder a bit.

"In her form as Ephenia, she is much more human than goddess. Much of that is your doing; be sure to take care of my sister, White Mage." He finished when Dane found himself standing on the ground in a plain of Usoria.

"Well?" Ephenia asked. With a smile on his face, Dane presented the staff he held in his hands.

"It appears that we aren't completely left without hope," Dane answered. Ephenia walked to him in awe, looking over the embedded crystals.

"The Aurora Crystals. I never imagined that he would give them away so freely." She whispered, running her hand over them.

"Nanahuatzin told me these crystals would harness our Light to combat the Darkness." Both of them smiled at one another, feeling the first real ray of hope they had seen in a long while. Ephenia looked to the bandages on his arms and hands.

"Why were you so foolish in thinking that you could vanquish such a creature on your own, Dane. Have you truly grown so impatient?" she asked. Dane said nothing as they left. Once Ariel arranged the meeting with her brother, her return revealed Dane lying on the ground, his arms and hands covered in blood and smoldering cuts emanating a sallow presence in his skin. All around him were signs of a battle.

Had she been a just a few moments later, Dane would have lost his life. Using her divine power, Ephenia healed his wounds and rewound time, watching in horror as Dane fought off a creature made of Darkness he had secretly extracted. She vowed that she would stay all the closer; if Dane was indeed so reckless, he would need more than just a relic of the gods to defeat this darkness.

"There is something that Nanahuatzin had directed me to speak to you about," Dane said, reaching into his sleeve and pulling out the journal.

"Regarding what? Something in the journal?" she inquired.

"No, the journal itself. Your brother told me that this journal isn't from the past, that there was no mage before me that attempted to rid the world of Darkness. Is this true? And if so, when is this journal from?" Dane asked with earnest innocence. Ephenia held her hand out for the journal as her divine temporal power flowed from her fingers. The moment it touched her hand, images of a fierce battle flashed through her mind. Two men in red and blue armor fiercely fought; five different color flashes cut the dark behind them. Betrayal, disappointment, desperation, hope, and blood all flashed through her mind before yanking her hand away and holding her head.

"Ephenia! Are you alright?" Dane asked, reaching out and catching her before she fell back. Nodding, she took her balance once again and stared intensely at the journal, looking over the burns and cuts in the cover.

"This journal is from a time in the future. How far, I am unable to tell. The events surrounding this journal are too confused and jumbled to know for sure."

"You are the goddess of time; how can you not know when this is from? How can you not know that there was no mage before me?" Dane asked, raising his voice with each question.

"There are some things that are kept from me, Dane. Hidden things within the Chamber of Oblivion. Only my mother, Minerna, and those of the Red are permitted to know what lies within its walls."

"But you are the goddess of time; how are there things you are not allowed to know?"

"It has always been this way. Even from the time of the Great Beginning before my brothers and I were born." Looking to the journal, Dane threw it to the ground, summoning a ball of flames to his hand, and obliterating it.

"If this journal is indeed from the future, then I have already thrown this world onto a different path. Isn't that right?" Ephenia nodded, thinking over the paths of time the world could have taken. Time was not bound to an 'absolute' course, but it had changed since Dane found the journal.

"The damage may have been done. But at least from this point on, there will be no further damage inflicted."


The blue-eyed being watched them both as the green-eyed being materialized, hiding within the densely packed brush.

"That man has something to destroy us." The blue-eyed being growled.

"Didn't we play a trick on them with a snake?" the green-eyed being asked.

"Yes, but Guwaru stopped us before we could do more."

"So why don't you simply go and kill them rather than playing a trick on them?" a third voice asked. The beings turned to see a large shadow loom over them, its large violet eyes narrow and slanted in rage.

"What would be the fun in that? They wouldn't squirm or squeal anymore. And that's the best part!" The green-eyed being answered. The violet-eyed being snarled, about to move forward when something made it shrink back.

"What's the matter? You too scared to do anything?" the blue-eyed being sneered.

"Something there is dangerous." The violet-eyed being growled.

"Yeah, I know. It's that rod he has. It feels dangerous, but almost like being… happy." The green-eyed being answered. The three of them shrank back when those they watched turned towards them, watching where they were.

"Dane? Is something wrong?" the woman asked. The man shook his head before turning around and walking away.

"It was nothing. Let's return home." The man said as they turned to leave. All three beings released the tension in their forms, looking to one another.

"It's almost like that man knows where we are! He did that once before, remember?" the green-eyed being squeaked.

"Yeah! It's like he could see us! It had to be something you did because I was silent the whole time." The blue-eyed being retorted. The violet-eyed being turned and left, searching out another target for his rage as the other two bickered. It was, after all, their fault. It was ALL their fault. They were the ones that drove him to drink. They were the ones that wanted him to die. They were the ones that took him away. And they would pay.

The violet-eyed being wandered for some time until it came to a path. This path looked well worn. Yes, this would be the perfect spot for one of them to come and pay for what they had done! The being lay in wait, crouching down within the ever-darkening forest as evening set in. It didn't take long for three of them to come, three people responsible for driving him to wash his blood away with liquor.

As the being waited, the laughter of the nearing humans intensified its rage. What did they have to be so happy about? Were they congratulating one another for their deed being completed? The being waited another few moments as they passed before silently seeping from the forest behind them, rising high in the air and extending the aura of its body into claws.

The being raked its claws down the side of a tree, tearing the thick bark from its trunk loudly enough to make the humans turn back to him with fear riddled eyes. The being bared its fangs as violet light glowed from its mouth. These humans knew what they had done, and they knew they were guilty. The three humans turned to run, screaming something about a monster. The being gave chase, pouncing on the first one and silencing her screams before she had a chance. The second was just as easily defeated. The third fell down, backing away on the ground until he was against a tree, unable to run. The violet-eyed being watched him for a moment, waiting until their eyes met before lunging in.


"It's the eleventh attack like this. I haven't the slightest idea what could be causing it. And it's only getting worse." The cleric bemoaned. Dane had been visited by five Bishops, each of them having sought him out in hopes that he, the White Mage, might have an answer. Dane heard of recent attacks by creatures made of shadow; he had even defeated a few malformed ones in the past. Up until now, they were limited to the destruction of buildings at the worst. Now people were being killed by these creatures in brutal, vengeful manors.

"We can't fight these creatures on our own. But you can." A second bishop stated.

"Fatris, your faith in me is flattering, but I am only one man. I can't fight off these creatures and search for a cure to the Darkness simultaneously." Dane answered apologetically.

"Then teach us! Teach us what you do and allow us to help you!" A third younger bishop pleaded. Dane looked back to his Shining Rod next to Ephenia sitting on their bed. He might be able to share the power of the Aurora Crystals, but none of these clerics had ever fallen in love, a part of the clerical code. The one caveat which would be the death of these bishops if they didn't abandon it.

"White Mage? Will you teach us? As such, we would be better equipped to help the people of Usoria." Dane thought about it long and hard; it wasn't that he was trying to keep his research a secret. He simply didn't know how to teach them.

"I must be honest with all of you, there is only one thing I have to share with you. To use it properly, however, you will need to break your oath as a Bishop. You must be able to love someone." All five fell silent; being a bishop of their deity had been their life's work. They all knew that when they took the oath, they would never marry as their work often kept them traveling. And the road was no place for a family.

"If that is the biggest sacrifice that we must make to keep Usoria safe, then I say it is a small price to pay." The youngest of the bishops said. Dane smiled and looked at him when he heard the enthusiastic proclamation.

"And what is your name Fatri?" Dane asked with a smirk.

"Vieren, Master White Mage." Dane looked to the others as they gave their names as well. James, Pharamund, Xenos, and Mars. Mars looked to be the oldest and was the most reluctant to give up on his oath. But when weighing it against the stakes he was presented with, he agreed that it would be a small price to pay. Once Dane was sure they understood what the task was they would be taking on and that it may mean even more tremendous sacrifices, he took them all to a smithy to make five more Shining Rods. While they waited, Dane studied the crystals and found a way to split off small shards of the master crystals to 'grow' new ones. At the same time, he taught the others the basics of Light and how harness it properly.

"So, this is the Shining Rod. A magnificent piece of craftsmanship, I must say." Mars marveled, swinging his rod this way and that, watching the light dance from the crystals as it spun.

"Now, these rods will allow you to harness and amplify the Light you carry to fend off these creatures of Shadow. You all exude outward light, the best weapon against Darkness. But if you are to harness this rod's true power and vanquish these creatures, you must love someone who possesses the same outward Light."

"And what if we fail in that venture?" Xenos asked. Dane smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You won't fail. This is something that must happen naturally. It may take a week, It may take years. I will teach you how to sense the 'hues' of Light to find outward Light more easily. Until then, let's all go and make sure these shadows are dealt with." He said with conviction. As they all turned to leave, Vieren stopped.

"What should we call ourselves since we've abandoned our clerical creed? I doubt any of the temples would take us in now." The other four stopped and thought. They hadn't considered what would happen once they had chosen this path. They could no longer call on the temples they used to serve for their afforded supplies and comforts. Dane nodded, thinking for a moment before answering.

"We are Clerics to the Order of Aurora." Mars and Xenos immediately latched onto the name, agreeing that such a title was rather appealing. When all had left, Ephenia came forward and put her arms around Dane's waist.

"'The Order of Aurora.' I like it." She smiled.

"Yes, but it won't be enough. There is still more that we need to learn about the Darkness if we are to fully understand how to defeat it." Dane said with a serious tone as he watched the other five leave, hoping for a brighter future.