WHEN THE BELLS TOLL

Bells tolled throughout Skyfire Paradise, their echo penetrating through the mountain range surrounding the main city, reaching far off into the distance. At far edge of a long-winding road leading through the city and into the Palace, hidden behind the curtains as white as snow on all sides, Thalia was sitting calmly in an open carriage, her expression indifferent. She wore beautifully woven white, wedding gown, knitted with furls which rolled upward from bottom to her waist, transitioning into smooth, flat silk.

The gown’s sleeves were rolled upward to her elbows, curled up into a beautiful rose on each side – facing imposingly – while light and thin golden threads fell down her back like waterfall, shimmering upon the light’s touch. She shifted slightly in her seat, sighing lowly, as she looked around. A moment later, Parsia walked through the curtains of white. His stylish suit captured the image of both the prince and the king; like Thalia, it was entire white, with decorations on both his shoulders, pants knee-long, spilling into black socks and black shoes at the bottom. His long, golden hair was knit into a ponytail, and his neatly shaven face carried a faint smile.

“How didn’t you suffocate yet, wearing that?” he asked as he slowly climbed up to the carriage and sat next to her.

“I haven’t taken a single breath in the past two hours.” Thalia said, smiling lightly.

“Ouch.”

“Yeah.”

“I told you it was too much,” he said. “But, you had to go and listen to the ‘crowd-pleasing’ side of the Council.”

“It’s just for a day, I’ll endure.” she said. “If it will prevent angry outbreak, it’s worth it.”

“Well, if it helps, you do look amazing in it.” Parsia said, smiling. “It really shows it was made solely for you.”

“Thanks.” Thalia replied. “The aim is to wow them all into ignoring the small detail of passage of time.” she added with a faint chuckle.

“That’s why I opposed even trying,” Parsia said, sighing lightly. “They shouldn’t forget. Rather, it’s important they don’t.”

“They won’t,” Thalia said. “Ask a man to forget a beautiful flower, and he shall. Ask him to forget a man riding a Dragon, and he’ll shove that same flower up your ass.”

“Ha ha ha, yeah,” the two laughed for a moment as they waited for the sign to signal the start of the parade. “However big a spectacle we create, he outshone us beyond measure. Still no news?”

“… no.”

“He’ll write.” Parsia comforted her, gently grasping her hand. “He’s probably tied up in fighting like a madman up there.”

“… yeah.” just as Parsia was about to say something, the two were startled by a loud cannon shot, relaxing as they chuckled.

The white curtains rolled back like clouds, unveiling the beautiful, sunny day before them, and a crowd of tens of thousands lined up like watchtowers at the street’s sides. A boy and a girl got up onto the carriage in the front seat and the carriage moved forward slowly, stone by stone, as it inched ever so closer to the distant Palace.

Both Thalia and Parsia raised their hands and waved, smiling without stop at the cheering crowds. Golden rays of the sun gilded the streets and rooftops, causing the scene itself to appear ethereal and surreal. The sounds of horses’ hooves were drowned in the sea of surrounding noise, and, as the carriage reached halfway point, bells began to toll fervently.

The tolls signaled another beginning, and they sang its solemn tune. Thalia and Parsia continuously waved and smiled, feeling their muscles slightly strain. However, it was a public spectacle, and they had to endure until the very end. The wedding ceremony itself was to take place in the Palace’s courtyard, while the entirety of the Kingdom was to celebrate for full three days and nights afterwards.

Distant walls guarding the courtyard gradually neared and rose upward, their strange, brownish gleam evermore apparent underneath the sun’s golden beams. A massive arch of spiraling and intertwined floral arrangements spanned over the gate which led into the courtyard. Among them, the most pronounced were white roses, carefully placed to stand out.

Carriage came to a halt when it entered the courtyard while Thalia and Parsia descended down with the help of the boy and the girl who drove them. Behind them, the cheers continued, booming into the open sky like drums. Parsia locked his arm with Thalia’s and smiled gently as they took a step forward toward an elevated platform. It was surrounded by roughly four hundred seats, all filled with no exception, as expectant gazes followed them.

On the stage was only a small altar and an elderly man donning black, sermon clothes, behind it. They slowly ascended a few steps of stairs and found themselves standing on the platform, facing the altar and the elderly man, their backs turned to four hundred guests, ranging from Nobles to the Guard Commander. The elderly man waited for a few moments for the noise to dull and silence to appear before stepping forward, his two hands landing on the altar.

“Gathered kith and kin,” his voice was low, yet it reached all ears of the entire Kingdom. “Nobles, Soldiers, Mages, Men, Women and Children, today bear witness and remember. The two standing before us have had their fates woven together, hearts intermingled, and minds jointed. Today they stand before us all, before the earth beneath and sky above, to profess their love for each other, and to forge a sacrament which washes away errs, doubts and pains, and withstands the river of time: marriage. To swear and surrender to another is an act of courage; to accept another is an act of humility. Before these two join in union defying the death itself, those who oppose it arise, else remain silent for all eternity.”

Silent hums beaconed throughout the gathered souls, and while few faces bore the expression of disapproval, nobody spoke up. Still hand in hand, both Thalia and Parsia sighed inwardly in relief; although six months had passed, they still expected some to voice their disapprovals. However, it seemed as though all had one way or another surrendered to the idea that Lynne would never again sit upon the Throne of Skyfire Paradise, realizing all the same that the Kingdom needs a King. The elderly man spoke some more before addressing Thalia and Parsia directly, who quickly spoke their vows – short and direct – after which the two shared a brief kiss on the platform. Following it, the Skyfire Paradise erupted into a massive euphoria, which only quelled as the night arrived, when the Crowning of the King was to take place.

* *

Far away from the small Kingdom, in a realm existing beyond the shards of mortality, within a small village, there was a small house, currently empty of life save for a single soul sitting cross-legged upstairs. His body had come to look like an empty shell, black circles underneath his eyes clearly visible. As the night dawned upon the sky, his body twitched for a moment, sending tremors throughout the entire house, as though to signal something.

While the house shook, a single tear escaped his eye and fell onto his thigh, disappearing into the cloth, never to be seen again. His dry lips curled up in a bitter smile as his skin grew redder by second. Soon enough, his entire body was wreathed in pure, brilliant white flames, akin to no other ever seen. His hair arose like spikes above his head, fluttering like serpents, while muscle mass slowly began returning to his body.

A few moments later, the white flames surrounding him expanded and consumed the room. Formations he had set up were destroyed as though they were never even there, walls slowly melted, and floor beneath him crumbled, but he remained suspended in the air in complete stillness. Heat kept rising, and white flames continued expanding outwardly, devouring everything in their path.

Suddenly, just as the moon breached the clouds, a muffled roar echoed from within Lynne’s chest. Following it, a massive explosion ensued, causing a gigantic crater to appear beneath his feet as even stronger shockwaves erupted outwardly, razing everything they touched to ground. At the epicenter, Lynne finally opened his eyes; just as he did, a massive pillar breaching the sky itself fell upon him, white and golden in color, showering him inside out.

White flames slowly subsided as the pillar itself expanded. His eyes had turned completely white, as did his hair, and both were shortly after replaced by pure blaze. A hum purely Divine echoed out from the pillar as the entire realm quaked briefly, and all eyes turned toward the source. It lit up the world like a burning star, blinding all those who looked at it directly.

The pillar remained for nearly ten minutes before it slowly began shrinking and, eventually, disappearing into thin air, leaving behind only a youthful body. Lynne’s hair had returned to its original, brown color, but his eyes attained even purer and lighter blue. He gently descended onto the ground and looked around him, sighing alongside a smile. A mere moment later, space near him tore open as panicked Y’se burst through, followed shortly after by Retch and the monkey.

“… what’s wrong?” Lynne asked when he saw Y’se’s worried expression, and even usually composed Retch had oddly creased brows. “Who died?”

“… you didn’t.” Y’se mumbled subconsciously.

“Well, if I did, this will be one hell of a conversation.” Lynne said, smiling.

“What took you so long?” Retch asked.

“How long have I been in there?” Lynne asked back.

“Over six months.” the monkey said.

“Holy shit!” Lynne exclaimed. “That bastard wasn’t kidding!”

“… what happened?” Y’se asked, standing closest to him.

“Eh? Nothing, I think.” Lynne said. “He just kept asking me stuff.”

“… whatever.” Y’se said after short silence, sighing. “All that matters is that you’re fine. How are you feeling?”

“Rejuvenated.” Lynne said, smirking.

“What pulled you out?” Retch suddenly asked, startling Y’se into silence.

“…” Lynne glanced at him oddly for a moment before replying. “Fulfilled dream.”

“… if you say so.” Retch mumbled. “What were you given?”

“Time.” Lynne replied quickly.

“Time?” Y’se asked, arching her brow.

“Time.” Lynne didn’t elaborate further, and instead stretched his arms and yawned as he looked around. “Anyway, considering how much time has passed, I’m assuming that everything I asked for is ready, right?”

“Yup.” the monkey said. “What now?”

“Now?” Lynne repeated, smiling wryly. “Now we go and cause some chaos.”