It was a somber group that Yggdrasil found a few days later. He had to track them from the settlement, as they had not wished to dwell near so much bloodshed. Once he had been sure the guard and boy would be taken care of by the village, he had retraced their footsteps to the cave that he thought they would be waiting in. He did not expect to find the scent of stale blood and many bodies that were abandoned. One scent coming from a secluded grave tugged at his heart. Alina.
He stood, silently reflecting on the bloody end the Human had come too. She was so kind, and beloved by many- including their own leader. If that peace that had been so carefully built could end in such bloodshed and destruction, then what was this all for? Was it even worth fighting their very nature?
Sighing, he turned his back, making his way through the forest at a careful pace. Normally when he was with the others he was able to maneuver easily based on their sounds. Now the forest lay silent, and Yggdrasil felt truly lost. It took him three days to catch up to them, but the child that was held protectively by Layrion drew his attention immediately. He stepped forward wordlessly, unseeing eyes trained on him. Layrion watched, knowing that it would be unwise to interrupt him as he was viewing the child. He extended his arms, and she responded instinctively knowing that the child would be safe with him. It was many long moments that passed while he observed the babe that watched him in kind.
The soft red curls that had formed were very much like his mother, and it was intelligent green eyes that peered up at him. A soft smile formed on Yggdrasil’s face. “You have a way of fire about you Layrion. And this child will be no exception. He will break every rule set by our kind, and that of his birthright.” Rune and Ammy watched in awe, a Seer reading the aura of a Human...that was truly unheard of. “Chaos brews in him, and it will feed from the Hunger in you. Sin will affect his life as much as ours, but he will be strong enough to overcome it.” Yggdrasil suddenly looked up, as if snapping out of a stupor.
Layrion stared evenly at the child. “Well...let it never be said I do things in halves.”
“Overcome Sin? Have you lost your mind Seer?” Rune bristled.
Yggdrasil shook his head, gently handing Sayifle back to Layrion. “No. I have never been so sure of a reading in my life. As odd as that sounds.” He seemed baffled. “It…..it has never been that clear before. You are a chosen one of the Elders, Layrion...was it like this for you?”
Her gaze narrowed, back straightening. She had never liked that even before Akil came into her life she had been told she was special and one of the descendants of Abel by the whispers of the servants in the household. Her father had quickly silenced them, certain that such an important figure would have more distinguishing features that white hair. Her circumstances had not been special or awe-inspiring, and Layrion had made sure to make it clear that she was against what others deemed unavoidable fate.
“It was as any other. Unclear and mundane.”
Ammy was silent throughout, as she had been since Layrion announced her sudden step into motherhood. She trusted and admired her elder sister, but this seemed to be so out of character of the young Icchorian she had grown up with. It was as if she had changed completely, like some legendary figure in stories coming to life to live in the modern age, speaking of change and unity.
“We should be to the halfway point in a few weeks time. I’d like to set up a temporary camp there, see if we can’t bolster a few new recruits to our cause. I know there are like minded Icchorians out there who are tired of the established ways.” Layrion turned, eyeing the road before them, Sayifle gurgling in her arms. “We will lead the way to unity. This world will change, and not because fate tells it too. We are not puppets to anyone, not the Elders, and not the Originator.”
She glanced back at them, her golden eye blazing. “I am no mere plaything. I will dictate what my future is, and I will be the one to shape this world…. Chosen or not.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nearly a year passed before the Elecores Clan set out once more. They had met others, finally taking the time to speak and get to know the Icchorians they ran into. Layrion had spoken true when she stated that many Icchorians had grown tired of constant war, and were interested in what she had to say.
Many more were surprised to find that behind this powerful Elder, was a Human child who glowed with life. He was bright eyed, ever curious of the world around him and blissfully unaware of how utterly powerless he was surrounded by all of them. They were baffled to see him leaning against her legs as she sat and talked with them as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Word spread quickly, and many came to know that the Golden Elder Layrion had started a change that would shake the world as it stood.
Once Layrion was satisfied with their numbers, and their loyalty to the cause of peace, she gave the order for them to prepare to claim their home. It was a party that numbered in the several hundreds, giving them a decent chance at a new life. They were inspired by their leader, and knew that what awaited them would be beyond anything they had ever even thought to consider.
In one month, they made the trek over mountains and through deep valleys, finally arriving at the entrance that Ammy and Rune had found long ago. It would need some work to conceal it within the mountain’s base, but with the distance and terrain of the area, visitors would be highly unlikely. Layrion commented that she must have been desperately lost to have found it, to which Ammy ignored her the entire rest of the day. The group came to a halt here, and Layrion ordered camp to be made. They were so high into the mountains, the air was thick in fog and clouds that the sun couldn’t shine through. There would be no threat here.
Layrion decided that herself, Ammy, Yggdrasil, Rune and a few others would go in first, to assess the structures and determine how best to approach their occupation of the vast city. It was this much smaller group that set out, Layrion at the lead with a happily cooing Sayifle in her arms.
They made their way down a large dark tunnel, the light of their torches showing a deep green moss on the walls. A gentle breeze pushed them further in, and Ammy could not help but smile in anticipation.
It was roughly ten minutes that passed before the gentle decline turned into a slight incline. As they breached the top of the small hill, the Icchorians stopped dead in their tracks. What opened up to them was a vast cavern that was so large the back of it could not been seen even with their keen sight. There was faint light streaming down from several holes that dotted the ceiling, and the faint sound of thunder could be heard from a storm that rolled on the other side of the mountain. To their left was a vast waterfall which fell down into the darkness below, drawing their gazes to the structures that towered beneath them. It was odd, being above the larger structures that they knew would dwarf a dozen Icchorians in their beast forms, yet still have a ceiling above their heads. The stone was carved beautifully and with great skill, towers that had spiraling staircases that led to rooms that were aloft in the cave’s warm air. Wild greenery that had once been tamed many centuries ago covered most the stonework, filling the air with a sort of life that seemed to move about the space with sentience.
For once, they felt so small in a world that they often towered in. This was a new beginning, where their lives would change and start anew. This was home.
This was Carpathia.
Comments (0)
See all