ROUTE 2: CHAPTER 2: THE ISLE OF DAMOCLES AND THE SISTERS OF MERCY

Being torn into pieces and then slowly melded back together again was not an experience most minds could comprehend without retreating into madness.

Veins slithering like worms as they reconnected themselves to each other, giving birth to fresh circuitry. Bones breaking apart, growing and being realigned as tissue was spun around them like string on a spool.

It would have been a horror to behold as wind was being absorbed from the surrounding atmosphere to create breathing matter, matter which in turn was molded into organs and flesh, a body being reconstructed anew.

(Arma: Br...ok...en. It… hurts… It huh….hurts.)

After the pain, at first, all he could see and feel was an ocean of darkness. A black tide had swallowed him, pulling him down into its depths, but then it all changed.

The waves and currents dissipated, the darkness retreated and the pain gave in to the pleasant sensation of being disconnected from your own body.

Floating through space as pure thought and emotion, all the worries of the living left for those who were still alive.

Suddenly he was sitting on a simple chair, in front of a table with a scarlet cloth draped over it, two silver candlesticks neatly placed in the middle. Around him a bright green field of crisp grass continued endlessly and in front of him, sitting in an equally simple chair, was Vaporin.

(Arma: Where am I? The last thing I can remember is… dying I think.)

(Vaporin: Dying is overrated and quite unnecessary… well, for the two of us at least. You are inside a dream I guess you could say, a space I have created inside of your mind to spare you from the pain of being rebirthed. One time was enough, don't you think?)

(Arma: Rebirthed?)

(Vaporin: Yes, your body is being reanimated as we speak, repairing itself if you will.)

(Arma: Thyone… is he gone?)

(Vaporin: Quite obliterated. Your capacity for destruction when imagining an appropriate symbol is impressive indeed... very promising.)

(Arma: Is that so… for some reason… I can't help but feel sorry for him.)

(Vaporin: Dont. He was nothing, nothing like you or I. He made his choice a long time ago and he paid the price. Remember Arma, he drew first blood.)

(Arma: Who was he? Why did he come?)

The burning red apparition looked thoughtful for a moment, his hair flowing like an animated flame behind him.

(Vaporin: Not an easy question to give a simple answer to… He was, in a word, an angel. You should hold memories of what that used to mean. A meaningless symbol of authority of the worst kind, the kind that is absolute.)

(Arma: A winged creature from heaven…)

(Vaporin: Yes... do not think about it too much, for now, rest... Soon we are off to fulfill our purpose and kill the gods, but before that… you need to meet your sisters.)

~

As Arma drowsily began to wake up, his mind returning to his body from the pleasant dreams that Vaporin had granted him as he was being mended, he was confused by the warm embrace he suddenly felt.

Although he had a hard time opening his eyes he could feel the softness of the bed he was laying on, and the comforting hugs of two people, two people nestled close to him.

(Arma: Where am I? Who… are you?)

Two women, a girl and a lady, desperately holding on to him with their arms, their chests closely pressed to his. As his eyes adjusted to the light he could see their figures more fully.

They were both wearing matching nightgowns, one completely filling out the gown to its brim and the other one, seemingly almost boyish, as the dress looked like it was a couple of sizes too large.

There was another thing… they looked strikingly similar to himself, as if they had been molded from the same cast.

(???: So you have finally awoken brother. I could hardly eat or sleep as I awaited your arrival.)

(???): Big brother is here, big brother is here! I'm so happy!)

White hair, pale skin and lines upon blue lines running under that skin like an intricate system of art, it truly was like looking at two images of himself from alternative universes.

The two women had their individual differences though, both compared to him and to each other.

The one who seemed more like an adult women, older than Arma, had straight long hair and a body shaped like an hourglass and looked dreamingly at him with a calm and mature demeanor.

The other one, who looked younger, perhaps a year or two below Armas own apparent age, was flat as board, small in stature and had short unruly hair, just a bit longer than his own.

(Vaporin: Good morning sweet killer. Welcome back to reality, such as it is.)

Vaporins fiery red apparition appeared beside the bed Arma was laying on and quietly seated himself on a red transparent chair manifesting itself from thin air beneath him.

(Vaporin: Well then my boy, these two fine ladies here are your sisters, my other children. Let me introduce you to Armie and Leigh. They will be instrumental to us on our journey together.)

(Armie: Yes sir! I'm Armie!)

The younger one spoke as she flew up from the bed to hug her father. When her body failed to be able to do so something quite peculiar happened.

It looked like she separated herself from her body, a bluish apparition flowing out from her physical form to hug her equally non-corporeal father.

It was as if a ghost had left its body behind to embrace another ghost, only to return and repossess the flesh of the host yet again once the hug had been had.

(Vaporin: What an extraordinary child you are dear Armie! Of course, I am the one who made you so!)

(Armie: Hihi, thats me!)

The older one took her time, apparently hesitant to let go of Arma as she slowly rose from the bed.

Once she had stood up she solemnly adjusted her hair and straightened the nightgown with a coy smile, making her large bosom all the more visible.

(Leigh: It is good to see you reappear father. And to you, dear brother, I shall inform you that my name is Leigh. It is good to make your acquaintance sweet Arma.)

(Arma: You are my sisters?)

Strange emotions rushed through Armas chest as he took in the disorienting picture of the three people now standing together before him.

It was a familiar sort of warmth, like something he had experienced as he was being created in the mill on the Field of Dreams, or even before that, when he dwelled as nothing more than potential in the deepest parts of the dark abyss. It was a sense of belonging… it felt like coming home.

(Leigh: We are dear brother, and we have waited for you so long.)

Armas elder sister bent down to hug him again, her face closely pressed to his shoulder and he could feel something wet against his cheek... She was crying.

(Leigh: So long… so long… and now you are finally here.)

(Armie: Sure thing! Get up already, there is so much to show you!)

~

The three of them left Arma alone to get dressed, Vaporins apparition apparently being able to move independently from Armas body in this place, wherever it was.

The room seemed simple enough, with stone walls and nothing much in the way of decorations except for a bedside table with an empty vase on it.

There was a wardrobe though, assumedly containing garbs for him to wear, and a large mirror, but more importantly than that; a window.

When he looked outside he could see the Sea of Dreams beneath him, its wild waves with all their unpredictable patterns crashing in on themselves. It seemed like he was inside some kind of tall building or a tower.

The sight of the sea never failed to comfort him, this was the place in which his essence had been born.

(Arma: What am I doing here… really... are these things that I am feeling even my own?)

(Arma: Sisters… he could have told me earlier.)

He remembered the last words of the green woman in that moment. She had presented him with a choice. What was her name again? Manila? A lot of time must have passed while he was recuperating after his battle with the angel Thyone.

(Arma: But I have chosen, haven't I? I want to know more, more of this world. I want to know where this journey will take me.)

The Isle of Damocles, that was what Vaporin had told him. The old man's hunting grounds, perhaps an old home.

He was the one who had made him and Arma had decided to follow his father. It seemed like the natural thing to do, perhaps the only real choice.

After a while Arma turned his attention to the wardrobe and found a brand new set of clothes for him to wear inside.

A grey bandage with blue markings which he wrapped around his waist, black athletic pants with three blue lines running down the side of each leg, maroon sneakers and two shorter grey wrappings to be applied upon his forearms.

Finally, a small metal pin portraying a circle with an X in it which he fastened upon the side of his hair. It had a strange glow about it.

He took some time to watch himself in the mirror. It was the first time he saw his own reflection and he could not help but to think that he looked good.

(Leigh: So handsome dear brother, your outfit suits you well.)

(Armie: Its cute, so cute!)

His sisters gave him a small applause when he exited the room and entered the hallway outside.

The both of them had also changed clothes and Armie now wore a tight set of dark leather armor adorned with a multitude of pockets and small pouches as well as long boots with several strappings.

Leigh on the other hand wore a long flowing beige dress, decorated with floral patterns and thin stems sprouting into actual flowers spreading a discrete blossoming aroma around her.

(Arma: Thank you. You both look… well, beautiful.)

His elder sister blushed while the younger one simply giggled in response.

(Leigh: You spoil us with your kind words brother... Now, let us go, father is expecting us in the dining hall.)

~

Once seated in the large lounge of the tower, a building seemingly made entirely out of stone, Arma found a feast of small food items and a canister with steaming hot water before him.

His two siblings had shown him to the hall and gestured him towards a wingback chair placed on the short side of a, for the scale of the room, very intimate rectangular table.

Vaporin was seated at the opposite side of the table and Armie and Leigh each took a chair beside Armas own, immediately trying to nuzzle closer to their brother.

(Vaporin: A tea party worthy of a first experience, is it not? Plucked from the memories of this very island, courtesy of our dearest Leigh.)

(Leigh: I took the utmost effort in shaping this memory.)

(Vaporin: Welcome Arma… This is the Tower of Exagon, the great lighthouse of the Isle of Damocles. My old, ancestral home, if such a thing ever existed.)

Each person around the table had a small cup placed on a plate before them, each cup holding a small bag of tea.

As Vaporin spoke the canister of hot water extended thin spidery legs from its bottom and started traversing the table, pouring its hot contents and serving each person in turn.

Arma took a deep sip, fully taking in the flavour of the black tea. It had a bitter but not at all unpleasant taste.

After being served their tea his sisters began eating the small crumpets and biscuits in front of them, Armie stuffing her face as quickly as she could while Leigh simply kept on nibbling on a single piece of cake in a dignified manner.

Arma himself could not feel any hunger at all, the intricately designed treats seeming to be an entirely alien concept too him.

(Leigh: These refreshments aren't to your liking? Would you like something else?)

His elder sister looked embarrassed and covered her mouth with the palm of her left hand.

(Vaporin: Do not take offense, my sweetest Leigh. Even I forget that Arma isn't designed to need solid sustenance.)

The old man smiled brilliantly, showing of his rows upon rows of sharpened teeth.

(Vaporin: Now that all his systems are in order he subsides entirely on the dormant energy left behind by the wind passing through our surroundings. He is able to partake in liquids though… for entirely different reasons than staying alive. Genius!)

(Leigh: Ah, I see… A wasted effort then.)

(Armie: Not so! Nom nom nom, these are… om nom… really good!)

(Arma: Thank you… thank you all. This is all… well everything is...)

A large crash broke the quiet atmosphere of the room as a person seemed to tumble into the hall, slamming its twin doors open in the process.

He was a thin golden hued man, with short, bright blonde hair and thick pierced earlobes, and as he entered the room he fell down to the floor into what could simply be described as a mess.

Quickly rising and straightening himself up, he was seemingly a tall man as long as he wasn't bent and twisted like a ball of yarn.

(???: Allo´errybody!)

When he noticed that he didn't have a seat placed for him at the table he quickly began dragging one from one of the corners of the dining hall, creating a grating noise on the way.

Once he was done he collapsed upon his chair, his long arms and legs bent in all kinds of strange ways that seemed in no way natural or comfortable.

(Vaporin: And this strange gaudia known as Zweirad, famed killer all across the spheres! Took some time to track him down in but I have kept him on my payroll for quite a while now.)

(Zweirad: Sure thing fella, don't you worry though, ain't nothing gonna kill you guyzes while i'm around. And I get more than enough of my fill of bad bloods to bleed in this guys service! Tza za za za!)

Leigh and Armie continued to sip from their cups of tea, enjoying the crumpets that seemed to appear on the plates in front of them.

(Vaporin: This peculiar existence will serve as our bodyguard upon the great mission, nay, journey, we will depart upon together tomorrow.)

(Arma: And what is it we are supposed to do?)

(Vaporin: Did I not tell you before? We are going to kill the so called gods, end their deceitfully divine reign and cross the boundaries of imagination into the great unknown.)

(Zweirad: This old gibber never fails to amuse, tza za za za. But-uuh… I'm up for anything really.)

(Arma: Killing… just like with Thyone... I don't know… )

The heated memory of the battle was still fresh in his mind, even though a lot of time must have gone by as he was being put back together after his nearly complete annihilation.

He had not touched him directly, he had not cut or bled him, he had merely extinguished the serene being as if blowing out a candle, yet it felt as if he could taste the strange man's blood upon his tongue all the same... The sweet taste of iron.

(Arma: ...Can I really do this?)

(Vaporin: Don't worry child, you were built for this kind of stuff. All three of you. It will be just like riding a bike, once you get the feeling right you will never forget it again...)

(Vaporin: Anyhow, I think that is enough introductions for today. We all have a lot to do, take your time to process what you have experienced, Arma.)

~ ~

After the short soiree with his newly found companions it seemed like everyone except him had something they needed to do or prepare for the departure they would embark upon the next morning.

He himself had been given “free time”, as Vaporin had so bluntly put it.

(Vaporin: Just go ahead and bum about, spend some time with your sisters, just don't bother me!)

Arma chose to use the time he had been given to wander the halls of the enormous lighthouse and explore the strange nooks and crannies of the place which he currently inhabited.

He began by following each stair he found down, and then further down, as he wanted to stand upon the island itself to gaze upon the sea.

Once he had found the entrance hall to the large lighthouse, a majestic room with ornamented pillars holding up the roof, he found the gateway to the island itself.

Outside, he was amazed to be able to experience the strangeness that presented itself before him. He had not been able to see this when he looked outside from the window in the room he had woken up in, but the tower truly seemed to reach farther up than ones imagination would allow.

And that was only the beginning. The Tower of Exagon was a magnificent cylindrical building, reaching far above the clouds or some kind of mist that lay thickly upon the sky above the island.

It had a pale sheen that gave the impression of an ancient monument and two spheres of light that it cast upon the sea, originating from some place further up than what Arma could see.

The strangest thing though, the thing that made him hold his breath, was the titanic arms that emerged from the ocean below.

Gigantic humanoid arms that bent themselves around the tower, as if having multiple joints, ending in huge hands that seemed to greedily grasp towards the heavens.

It seemed to him, in that moment, as if he was watching a graveyard of giants, old and obscure beings that had reached for the sky only to perish on the way to that which they had sought.

Arma picked up a rock and threw it of the island. It immediately dissolved once it reached the waves that crashed against the cliffs around the tower. Except for the lighthouse itself it seemed like the island was barren, rocks, algae and nothing much else.

(Arma: A sludge of thoughts and emotions… my mother. What does it even mean?)

He stood there for a moment in silence, listening to the waves, tasting the salty breeze from the Sea of Dreams and watching as multicoloured winds emerged from the depths to travel to whatever faraway destination they sought.

(Arma: Is this what life is supposed to be like? Just one thing after the other…)

The ocean before him did not answer, it just continued to be. After a while Arma went inside again.

~

Leisurely exploring the tower it took Arma some time before he found anything else of note, most of the rooms and halls in the lighthouse seemed to be empty except for the mouthless clay guardians that apparently took care of it.

He watched as they went about their business, cleaning, repairing and doing all manner of work, but none of them answered or even seemed to notice when he tried to talk to them.

Only touching them or otherwise hindering their work made them acknowledge that he existed and even then all they did was wave their large hands around angrily.

He continued to explore upwards when he began hearing the sound of someone humming on a melody. It was a lovely tune, captured by an equally sweet voice and he followed it until he approached its source.

That beautiful voice seemed to echo from a chamber close by and as he ventured closer the humming turned into singing.

In the City of Glass,

The towers reach far on high.

Priests abide on the balustrades,

Chanting far away lies.

In the Gardens of Yeb,

Conmen pay for their debts.

Apparitions are made flesh,

In the throes of undeath.

Arma followed the voice and as he passed through the doorway to the room of its owner he knew that had entered some sort of special space, a location that not necessarily originated from tower itself, it had another, more profound origin. It felt like diving underwater and then resurfacing again.

He had suddenly entered a garden, a house of glass hosting a myriad of different flowers, all surrounded by a mystical field of shining pollen slowly floating through the air.

He knew the names of many of the flowers; verbena, chamomile, lilies and bindweed among many others, and each type of blossom had its own place and bed of soil, carefully orchestrated and organized to create an intricate pattern that made up the beauty of the entirety of the garden inside of the greenhouse.

The fragrance in this house of glass, both bitter, sweet and infinitely complicated, was astonishing.

In the middle of it all stood a woman, watering one of the plants and pruning it with a small silver scissor. It was his elder sister, Leigh.

(Arma: Woah… what is this place? It's amazing…)

(Leigh: Ah, brother. I am glad that you think so, it is a beautiful garden, yes? I am deeply infatuated with the goddess Yeb you see, she has the most beautiful garden herself. She is my... favorite… but do not tell father that I said so, he dislikes them all ah ha.)

Leigh looked embarrassed, her cheeks turning into a rosy pink color as she slowly shook her head, making her white locks dance around her head.

(Arma: You made all this?)

(Leigh: Hardly so… I am merely a collector, although I take care to grow and nourish them. These flowers all belong to other people, other places, they are the memories I have collected utilizing my skills as a floralist.)

His sister kept a small smile upon her face as she cut off a leaf from the mallow she was working on.

(Leigh: Father was the one who created this space, this greenhouse, so that I could store them and bring them with me wherever I go.)

(Arma: Memories, what do you mean?)

(Leigh: Yes... These flowers host the memories I have collected from the places I have visited so far. The ones who holds the most promise I have been cultivating ever since, grooming, adjusting and turning them into the most wondrous of symbols.)

Arma was still confused and noticing this Leigh extended her left hand towards him.

(Leigh: Come, hold my hand and I will show you.)

As Arma took her hand the world around him disappeared. Suddenly it was as if he was taken to the inside a photograph, a picture of something that had been, ages and ages ago, swirling into existence from the past and replacing the world around him with its image.

(Arma: This is…)

A man and a woman was sitting in front of each other outside of a café in a crumbling ancient city, a large triangular lattice tower creating the backdrop for their meeting.

He was drinking a cup of coffee, eyes fixed upon her face, she was sipping on a glass of red wine, looking towards the distance.

“Curious that this is the place you would choose to say goodbye, this is where we met you know.”

“Yes… I thought it might be easier for you that way… seem more final.”

A sudden gust of wind picked up around them, blowing discarded newspapers and crumbling pieces of structural waste around in the air, creating the illusion of snow.

“I still love you… you can't change that.”

“Yes… I know.”

Just as suddenly as he had become a part of the memory he returned back to the greenhouse and the garden inside of it, reality readjusting itself around him.

(Leigh: That was the memory of this syrian mallow, the rose of sharon. Not that useful, but I like it.)

The glass of red wine from the memory manifested in her unoccupied hand as she spoke. Still holding on to his, she handed it to him once it had fully appeared.

Arma tasted it without question. It was in no part just a memory, it was real. Once he had tasted a mouthful it disappeared.

(Leigh: Now… This one has more practicality, although it isn't as pleasant.)

His sister lead him through the garden and Arma marveled as he watched the multitude of colored lights that was hanging from its ceiling.

It reminded him of christmas decorations, a word that something deep inside him dragged to the surface.

And then she stopped in front of another bed of flowers. Using her free hand she gently stroked the pink and white petals of one of the strange blossoms protruding from the earth in the wooden box in front of them.

Reality, once again, distorted into the experience of the memory.

Heat. Every other sensation made way for that single one. Heat. Heat and fire. Burning. Burning. Burning. Burning. Burning. Burning.

The flames had swept through, turning the walls around them into black charcoal that began to disintegrate into grey flakes of dust.

The heat was unbearable, melting his skin as he held on to his younger brother, desperately trying to shield him from the torture he himself was experiencing.

Even his thoughts were melting, burning, blending into a cohesive experience of nothing but pain. I will see you… he thought, I will see you in the next world.

Ending abruptly, as the world turned to black, Arma and Leigh left the memory behind.

(Arma: …)

(Leigh: Fraxinella, the “burning bush”. Using this memory, the world turns into flame. Just as it did for the two brothers.)

Leigh let go of Armas hand and raised both of her own towards the glass roof above them. As she did the entire garden erupted in flames.

The same burning sensation of the memory, flowers withering away around them as the world turned red caught Arma in its vision of maddenning suffering.

Only this time he could feel the heat of the flames, feel the pain as they scorched his skin and in a single moment truly know what it meant to watch everything turn to dust.

Then it was all gone, the garden restored to normal again.

(Leigh: I really hope they found that “next world” they were wishing for.)

(Arma: Sister… I don't know what to say. All of this is… I guess the only word I have for it is wonderful, your garden is amazing.)

(Leigh: Brother called me sister... I am truly happy.)

(Arma: … Is it okay if I just sit here for a while?)

Letting out a small giggle of satisfaction Leigh motioned him towards a white wooden bench placed among the wooden boxes, flowerpots and blossoms that were placed all around the greenhouse.

(Leigh: Yes… you are most welcome to.)

Arma sat himself down, solemnly looking up towards the roof and the many lights in the greenhouse. Outside of it there was no trace of the Isle of Damocles to be seen, only a faraway distance painted with stars.

(Arma: Sister…Leigh… let me ask you a question. These gods… are they really that bad?)

(Leigh: Depends on how you see it…)

She looked thoughtful for a moment, continuing her work as she watered the fraxinella whose memory the both of them had just experienced.

(Leigh: If you lie and deceive to protect someone, or demand allegiance, even love, to grant someone their wish… are you doing something evil or something good? Even Yeb begs for love from those she grants a wish, a truly pathetic display...)

(Leigh: Anyhow it is true that they impose their will upon this world without having any right to do so.)

(Arma: And who would have such a right?)

(Leigh: Well… no one… or everyone I suppose. Why should anyone decide the point of everything? I'd rather think that no point is preferable.)

~ ~

Arma did not know for how long he sat there, smelling the sweetness of the garden and basking in its quiet serenity, but at some point he fell asleep.

It was a wonderful, dreamless sleep, no spirits or visions haunting him as he rested in the emptiness of his own personal void.

Once he woke up, he found that he had been moved to the bed in the room which he had previously slept.

He also found that he was not alone, Armie and Leigh tightly wrapped around him like two snakes suffocating their prey.

It was still in the middle of the night, the sky outside of the single window burning with images of distant spheres upon the darkened tapestry, and his sisters were sleeping soundly.

With the two women beside him, one on each arm, Arma felt complete. It was as if two different limbs that he did not know that he had been lacking had been returned to him.

Two additional heartbeats, banging inside his chest, filling him with their harmonious rhythm and music. It felt like being loved.

If he ever were to lose this feeling, now that he had experienced it, he did not know if he could continue living.

~ ~ ~