Chapter 3: Where Art Thou, Layton?

Two harpies were sitting on one of the cliff edges overlooking the Edge. Around the cliff were broken poles and flags sticking out of the side of the cliff. The tattered remains still ravaged by the elements was disconcerting. It was as if the past was making its eerie presence known, warning them of the consequences of straying too far from the settlement.

The whole place creeped Mina out.

But she couldn’t help it, Kayla really wanted to go. That didn’t stop her from trying to convince her friend otherwise, though.

“You know… we shouldn’t be here…” Mina kept looking around the sky. She wanted to turn tail if she even got a hint that the Sentry was around.

Kayla grin was hungry. “We’ll be fine, this is the only spot free to practice.”

“We could just use the practice fields…”

Kayla’s eyes drew down. “Like they would help you. I don’t understand how you can be so naggy when you’re that good.”

Mina’s face drew into a pout.

“I’m not good.”

“Liar,” Kayla shot back, “that’s the biggest rock in a cloud if I’ve ever heard one.”

Mina hunched her shoulders uncomfortably. “Kayla, we really should be heading back.”

“Come on, Mina! Just show me a few moves! You always know more than me, those skills are wasted on you. Let me catch a feather or two with some nice tricks back in the town, alright?”

“Why, are you thinking about a mate?” Mina grinned, trying to get a rise out of Kayla.

Kayla wasn’t phased and stuck out her tongue. “So what if I am? I don’t want to be single forever! Come ooooon. Miiiiiiina.”

Mina held out for a few more moments before she gave into her friend’s wide-eyed begging.

“Fine, but only because you’re my best friend.”

“You’re the greatest harpy. So beautiful, so sexy, I could kiss you!”

Mina rolled her eyes as she pushed her friend away with a huff. “Now who’s the rock in the clouds? You only say those things when you need something or get what you want!”

Kayla shot back an easy grin. “Hey, it could be true as well as flattering, you know?”

Rolling her eyes, Mina launched off her perch and felt the freeing sensation of weightlessness overtake her as she fell. Her wings flared out, giving her a billowing sense of buoyancy… of freedom. She couldn’t help but smile giddily as her wings gripped the air and pushed it down with powerful strokes.

Kayla followed, albeit significantly less gracefully.

They took turns doing some whimsical wheels, wings occasionally brushing against each other as they executed synchronised movements that looked like leaves dancing along in the wind.

“Okay, you got that one, now try this,” Mina instructed, then did a short loop and flipped herself around so that she was hovering in midair.

Kayla threw up her arms. “How am I supposed to do that?!”

“Just lean into the turn and use the tips of your feathers to control the flow as you pull up. Like this!” Mina demonstrated the action once more, then wheeled around and landed back on their perch. Kayla joined after sloppily executing the same movement with an embarrassed look.

“You make it look and sound easy,” she commented dourly.

“Well, actually it kind of is—”

“Don’t say it’s easy!” Kayla hunched her shoulders. “It’ll make me feel depressed.”

Mina finally grinned and was about to repeat the movement once more to her friend. But before she launched, she suddenly stopped, nearly causing Kayla to collide with her as she was about to leap off the perch to follow.

“Hey, what’re you doing? Are you trying to make me fall off?!” Kayla then realised how silly that sounded. Falling wouldn’t hurt a harpy anyway.

“No, but—what’s that?!” Mina pointed her claw into the distance. Kayla blinked at the sudden appearance of a flailing… what was that? It didn’t look like another harpy.

Mina could hear its distressed cries, but was stiff. The being looked like it was suspended in midair, floating slowly downwards, as if gravity was deciding whether or not to take over.

Kayla’s mouth parted. “What is that? Is… is that an elf? In the air? With no wings?!”

They stared at it, captivated by the seemingly graceful movement of the creature.

It was a moment of impossibility.

Something mystical.

Something reality wouldn’t be able to accept.

Then, as if something clicked together, it started falling.

Time resumed and the creature yelled out.

Whatever it was, it was clearly unable to fly and was in deep trouble. A split second later, she made up her mind, nodding to Kayla and diving straight after the wailing and flailing creature.

“Come on, we have to save it!” Mina called out.

“Right behind you!” her friend responded.

Mina’s wings unfurled with an impressive fan of blue iridescent colours that caught the high sun as she dove. Wheeling slightly to correct her course, she tucked her wings and arms in and beelined towards the panicking elf, creature, whatever it was! Diving closer, she vaguely registered the strange clothes it wore.

Mere moments of processing this, a glittering thing came apart from one of its hands and almost hit her. Her hands whipped out automatically, grabbing it before it could escape past. Distracted briefly, her claws missed grabbing the creature.

Growling internally, Mina redoubled her efforts and reached out once again.

It’s not an elf, it had round ears! But a dwarf couldn’t be this tall… could it?

Her claws were only a body’s length away. She was close enough to see the fear and distress on its, no, his face. He was screaming something unintelligible with tears pooling at the corners of his eyes. His eyes widened as he finally registered her. His hand shot out to try and grab it.

Just as she was about to connect with his hand a sudden surge of wind buffeted her back. Light flooded her vision, making her recoil with a frantic squawk. By the time the light faded, and the spots cleared from her vision, the mysterious falling being had disappeared.

Frantically, Mina braked with her wings and swung around, searching for the mysterious figure that had abruptly disappeared. She wheeled a couple of times and then hovered uncertainly.

The harpy pursed her lips in consternation. In that time, Kayla finally caught up with her.

“What was that?!” Kayla’s wings flared as she caught an updraft. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“I don’t know,” Mina replied weakly, she gripped the object in her claws. “I haven’t either.”

Footsteps echoed in the vast hall.

Imposing statues lined the walls showing erudite figures posing wisely and staring firmly off into the distance, as if mortal concerns never touched their profound minds. Normally when one entered these sacred halls, one would bow their heads in contemplation and respect to what each statue represented.

These, after all, were foundational figures for the Temple.

The footsteps continued, hurried and frantic, a stark contrast to the statues and their imposingly calm façade.

The steps quickly came to a halt and the harried figure knelt on the ground, despite the obvious emergency. Deference to a slumped figure sitting on the ornate throne was immutable, even in a crisis.

“Grand Oracle,” he said, “I came as soon as I heard your summons.”

A voice like rasping paper on tree bark came trickling back. Despite the weak-sounding tone, it echoed with grave authority.

“Rise, my child.”

Only members of the Order of the Goddess had the right to call this subservient individual a ‘child’. But out of all the members of the Temple, it was only the Grand Oracle who could command such respect and awe from him.

However, agitation lined his young face, leading him to impatiently speak out, breaking etiquette. “What is it, what did you see?”

The Grand Oracle was silent for almost three full breaths.

It felt excruciatingly long in the tense atmosphere of the Gods.

Sacred was barely enough to describe the aura that came off the Grand Oracle.

Divine was closer.

The Grand Oracle lifted her hand and sighed.

“I’m not much longer for this world,” she finally said.

The figure’s eyes widened. “T-That isn’t true! You have lead us so long and so rightly, it is impossible—”

“Enough,” the Grand Oracle replied, serenity settling on her features like muslin cloth on the departed, “there is nothing that lasts forever, save for perhaps the Goddess, and even I doubt…”

She stopped herself in time and closed her eyes.

Such words, if ever spoken by another, would be taken as borderline heresy, but from the Grand Oracle’s mouth it was a like a portent of death.

“S-Surely you don’t believe so…”

The Grand Oracle shook her head and raised herself with effort.

“I have seen a vision. I know it to be my last. Heed my words.”

The individual solemnly knelt once more.

The Grand Oracle swept a hand grandiosely. “I sense change on the horizon. A sweeping flame that will encompass the entirety of our world. It may be the light to bring us into a new age, or a conflagration that will bring everything into annihilation. We do not know. Everything moves with it at the centre. A new Age will begin. We can only… we can only… try.”

The individual raised his head in abject horror. “What thing is capable of such an act?”

The Grand Oracle staggered forward. Instinctively, the individual dashed forward to support her as she leaned into his embrace. As she did, her voice reached his ear, a whisper no louder than the whisk of grass in a gentle breeze.

Though soft and unassuming, the information spoke magnitudes of shock that reverberated around his very core and drew cold sweat in torrents. He almost made to lean her back, but then he slowly realised something almost equally momentous that had happened.

The Grand Oracle had already passed away.

Bowing solemnly, the Prince narrowed his eyes and made to turn around.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! @*(HJ)@[email protected]#()$*—”

With a flash, an unknown being screamed something and crashed into the grand oracle’s body flinging her from the chair into the wall.

The Prince gaped as the being flailed around in her robes, tears streaming down its cheeks as it made to say something.

Recovering from his shock, the Prince was about to draw his sword when—

Flash.

The creature was gone.

“What in the five cosmoses…”

Then it sunk in. The creature had taken the Grand Oracle’s body.

—————————

Metal clanked upon metal as the unbreakable legions of the Empire marched forward.

The army was vast and uncountable.

Their gazes were stoic and unflinching.

All who would resist would be crushed underneath their inexorable march of subjugation.

The Capital was comprised of the core founders and believers of the mythical age. Where demons, angels and spirits existed, they were now sparse and lackadaisical. All that was left were the mortal races… and the undead.

The leaders were meeting on a small hill a small detachment on either side warily eying the other for any false move.

“Your Capital is the last to stand on this glorious continent which will soon be unified under the Empire. Resistance is ultimately futile. You should surrender peacefully. What say you, Commander? Will the Helliens join us or be crushed?”

Religious symbols adorning the Hellien Commander clinked with the jostling rumble of laughter from the Commander’s barrel-like chest. He glared back with steely eyes.

“The Empire will not let us worship the old Gods.”

The Empire’s general tossed his head. “Only the Emperor is worthy of such veneration.”

“There are more powerful beings than you could possibly imagine.” The Commander straightened suddenly and looked towards the sky with a rapturous gaze. “More things than you can ever know.”

The General laughed. “Preposterous. I know you maniacal believers. You think there’s a spirit in every rock, a demon in every shadow and angels in the birds. I tell you what, I’ve never believed for a single second that those three even exist!”

“You’ve never seen yourself sleeping how could you know if you exist then? Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

“Semantics! If your so called spirits, demons or angels are real, then let them express their discontent here. Better yet, ask if they are inclined to join the Empire!”

“Blasphemy! Besides, you are sorely mistaken if you think I believe solely in the powers of the mythical races!”

“What?” The General smirked. “I thought you folk only believed in those three.”

The Commander hesitated. “Well, yes, but there is another doctrine that suggests humans—”

The general burst out in laughter as his guards jeered. “A human believer?! You’re even more insane than I gave you credit for!”

“Do not insult their name! You wouldn’t be fit to even lick their toes!”

“I care not for a being that merely is a legend! If they so exist may they strike me dow—oooooooph!”

With a flash and a clang an elegant creature, wrapped in mysterious garments descended on the general… directly hitting his head. The general was promptly crushed under the weight of the creature which held another in its hands. With a gentle thump, the body was let go and joined the general on the ground, crushed by some enormous unseen force.

If the general had survived the first impact, the second had definitely finished it off.

The creature had a far-off look in its eyes that briefly met the Commander’s turbulent gaze. It then made as if to reach out and say something, before another flash took it away.

The Commander couldn’t shake its image from his eyes.

“What was that Commander?!” A guard by his side finally stirred.

His voice was faint, but the guard barely caught it.

“Human…”

The guard swallowed.

No, no way.

But when the guards cautiously approached the newly formed bestial-sized hole housing the general, they found a gregariously-dressed deceased elderly elf. Indeed it was as if the heavens had heard the general’s claims and had decided to smite him.

The outcome of this war was devastating and the effect of the demoralised troops that lost the initiative and their general would echo through the annals of history. But that is a story for another time.

Above the gathered citizens was a smiling figure. She was quite possibly the most beautiful elf, no, creature to grace these lands. Though dozens of suitors had lined up to ask for her hand, she had rejected them all.

She wanted for nothing, as everything was given to her.

Satisfied with the fervent cheers and magmatic gazes burning below the raised balcony she greeted the crowd with a dazzling performance. First a wave, then a graceful hand extended from which she received a cup filled to the brim with a glowing liquid.

She tilted her head back and downed the contents as the crowd chanted her name.

Lithis! Lithis! Lithis!

Our Queen!

Her smile deepened.

Ah yes, it was good to be a ruler.

Lithis, as usual, said some rousing words to the delight of the gathered masses. It was clear to see here that the people had complete faith in her.

All was well…

NOT!

Lithis withdrew from the balcony, her smile dying the moment she stepped out of view. The prime minister, a lanky fellow with dead-fish eyes circled around and gave her the usual lavishes and praise.

“Your Majesty, that was amazing, I’m truly in awe of your astounding—”

“I hate this country!”

“Your Majesty—”

“Damn it all, you be Queen!”

“You mean King, Your Maj—”

“Angor if you say another word I will drop kick you off that balcony you love so much. We don’t even have a throne! I want nothing to do with this small nation! Rivers of debt, poor land, poorer citizens, a remote barren location that merchants even with their ravenous appetite won’t bother coming to! And now due to the senseless treaties we’ve signed with the Western Union we now have to participate in a war we can’t afford?! I want to sell this shitty crown!”

The Prime Minister’s eyes widened as the Queen stripped the gold circlet as she held it high as if to cast it to the ground. He thew up his hands in a panic and yelled out.

“Your Majesty! No, would you please—”

“This thing sucks! My policies aren’t doing a thing! Who wants to be the Queen of Aziah? I want to quit—”

Lithis was cut off mid-tirade as the doors burst open. A soldier, heavily panting, forced his way in, ignoring the cries of the chamberlain who was unceremoniously trying to drag the man back.

“General, what are you—” she began to say, but was interrupted yet again as the soldier clanked over, now pulling the chamberlain across the ground with him.

“Your Highnnnngg— I mean, your Majesty!” The General saluted briefly. “News from the front!”

“What?” Lithis’ eyes widened with hope. She forgave General Teilson for the brief faux pas. “Has the war ended finally?!”

“Absolutely the opposite, Your Majesty, the war is getting worse!”

“What?!”

“We’re losing.”

“WHAT?!”

“The army is on the march here now!”

“ARRRRRRRGH!”

“No, Your Majesty, not the crown! At least sell it if you want to get rid of it! We can buy ten, no, a hundred soldiers with that! General! Help me!”

“We must repel the invaders first, then you may give up the crown!”

“Shut up, you oaf!” The chamberlain smacked Teilson on the head.

“Quiet down, Ingo, I’m trying to say something here. Ah that hurts.”

“I didn’t even hit you that hard.”

“Will you two stop what you’re doing and help me disarm the Queen?!”

The General smiled beautifully.

“I’d love to, Angor, old friend, but erm…” He paled slightly and clutched his abdomen. Blood seeped past his hand as he collapsed with the horrified chamberlain now clambering to his feet.

“That’s what I was about to say,” Ingo spat out. “Go to the hospital you damn musclebrain! Huh? General Teilson? General? Oh, no… I didn’t do that, did I?”

“Wait,” Angor crept towards the body and did a quick examination. “He’s in bad shape. This is beyond the level I can treat.”

Lithis put the crown back on and stared at Teilson with unnerving calm. She closed her eyes and withdrew a small box from her chest. The chest was filled with ornate bestial carvings and intricate designs. A prominent cursive inscription lined the edges and glowed slightly as she opened the box.

She checked the contents briefly and sighed.

“You’re right,” she said to Angor and then turned to Ingo. “Get the court doctor, immediately.”

“I already called for them as soon as I saw him,” Ingo replied sadly. “He didn’t want to stop. It may be too late.”

“I… never did say thanks to him, did I?” Angor murmured just loud enough for Lithis to hear him.

Lithis bowed her head.

Thump.

Then raised it almost immediately.

A figure stood on the General’s body, driving the arrow deeper into him.

“S-Stop!” She screamed without thinking. “What are you doing?!”

The figure seemed confused and ran his fingers through his hair. The action drew her gaze to his head.

She realised it had round ears.

“Im…” her voice meekly trailed off.

Impossible.

The creature glanced down as if in shock and then touched General Teilson.

Then as abruptly as it appeared, it disappeared.

Angor was yelling something while Ingo scrambled out of the room with a frantic nod.

Lithis could barely hear them, she was too shocked to reply.

“What,” she finally managed to get out, “is happening?”

There was a faint clatter. It was the arrow. It had come out of the General and hit the floor.

Where breath had all but ceased, there was a moan.

What in Eternal Existence?

General Teilson slowly rolled over and made to get up.

Angor rushed forward to prop him up.

“Careful,” he murmured, “you’ve been badly hurt.”

General Teilson blinked and replied in his deep, gravelly baritone.

“I feel fine, old friend… I feel more than fine.” He bounded to his feet. “I feel absolutely energised!”

“Your wound…”

“Prime Minister, I have the doctooooo-whaaaaaat?!”

“Ingo! Let me give you a hug.”

“No, wait, what happened? How—stay away!”

Angor chuckled. “Well whatever, or rather, whoever that was, they really helped us there. Although the situation doesn’t bode well… Ah well, I’m sure you’ll be up to the task, Your Majesty. Your Majesty?”

Lithis stared at the ground. There, stark black against the ground, was a single strand of hair. No one in the room had black hair…

She reached out and touched it.

I think I will keep this, she thought. For luck.